Compare towns
Plymouth vs Lebanon vs Durham vs Somersworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Plymouth | Lebanon | Durham | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601Lowest |
14,999 |
15,080Highest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
38.9±3.1Highest 10% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Lebanon and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Durham and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 31% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #47 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Lebanon School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Lebanon High School | Oyster River High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.7 |
12.3 |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.