Compare towns
Durham vs Eliot vs Madbury vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
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 | Durham | Eliot | Madbury | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
7,146 |
2,203Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Eliot 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | 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 | 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.