Compare towns
Plymouth vs New Ipswich vs Somersworth vs Durham
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).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Somersworth has the oldest population (median age 38.4).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | New Ipswich | Somersworth | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601 |
5,310Lowest |
12,111 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
36.9±2.4 15% below NH |
38.4±2.7Highest 11% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Somersworth and New Ipswich 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% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Somersworth and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54% NH: 40.6% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
$110,507±$9k 12% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and New Ipswich 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 |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,477±$134Highest about the NH average |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Somersworth and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288 6% below NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and New Ipswich 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and New Ipswich 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 | #82 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Somersworth School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Mascenic Regional High School | Somersworth High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.7 |
11.4Lowest |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.