Compare towns
Chester 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
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Chester | Madbury | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Highest |
2,203Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Chester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Lowest 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+ | 17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
| Madbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 27% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plainfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Chester 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester 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.