Compare towns
Plymouth vs Plaistow vs Durham vs Newmarket
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 the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601Lowest |
7,861 |
15,080Highest |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.2±1.9Highest 5% below NH |
| Newmarket and Plaistow 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% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Newmarket 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%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Newmarket 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% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 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 |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
| 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 |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
| Durham and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
| Newmarket and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 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% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 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 |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Newmarket 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 | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Oyster River High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.4 |
12.3 |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.