Compare towns
South Hampton vs Durham vs Plainfield vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Newton has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | South Hampton | Durham | Plainfield | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984Lowest |
10,681Highest |
2,522 |
4,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
| Newton and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$138,487±$29k 40% above NH |
| South Hampton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,683±$96 13% above NH |
| South Hampton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109 37% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$8,124 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
90.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | South Hampton School District | — | Plainfield School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.