Compare towns
Canterbury vs Madbury vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Canterbury | Madbury | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,353 |
2,203Lowest |
2,522Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Canterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Canterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
| Madbury and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Madbury and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,421Lowest 11% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury and Plainfield 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 | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Shaker Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield 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 |
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.