What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plymouth has the shortest commute (18 min average).

Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plymouth	Strafford
People
Population	6,601Highest	4,306Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH	46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH
Kids under 18	13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	17.6%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Strafford and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54%Highest NH: 40.6%	40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6%	5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH	$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH
	Strafford and Plymouth 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	$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH	$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,288Highest 6% below NH	$6,086Lowest 9% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	18.6%Highest NH: 7.2%	8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 31% below NH	36 minHighest 34% above NH
Work from home	11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Strafford and Plymouth 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	#73 of 120 in NH
School district	Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District	Strafford School District
High school in town	Plymouth Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	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.