Compare towns
Durham vs Hampton Falls 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
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 | Hampton Falls | Madbury | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
2,328 |
2,203Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Hampton Falls 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 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 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+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hampton Falls 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 | 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.