Compare towns
Plymouth vs Plaistow vs Durham vs Holderness
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).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
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 | Plaistow | Durham | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601 |
7,861 |
15,080Highest |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
40.1±3.7Highest 7% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
| Plaistow and Holderness 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% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Holderness 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% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
| Durham and Plaistow 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 |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
| Holderness and Plaistow 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 |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Plaistow 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% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Plaistow 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.3 |
— |
| 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.