Compare towns

Winthrop vs Plainfield vs Durham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Winthrop has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

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.

MeasureWinthropPlainfieldDurham
People
Population
6,191Highest
2,522Lowest
4,262
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.6±5.3Highest
12% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.6±5.9
10% above U.S.
Winthrop and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.9%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.4%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Winthrop and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,470±$4kLowest
7% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$99,181±$5k
23% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$294,800±$41kLowest
11% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$322,200±$34k
3% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$892±$319Lowest
37% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,506Lowest
12% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$3,781
21% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.8%±22.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
25%±40.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Winthrop and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
23.1%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Winthrop and Durham 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 #12 of 133 in ME #19 of 120 in NH #14 of 133 in ME
School district Winthrop Public Schools Plainfield School District RSU 05
High school in town Winthrop High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.