Compare towns
Durham vs Madbury vs Newmarket 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 20.8).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Madbury | Newmarket | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,203Lowest |
9,463 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
41.2±1.9Highest 5% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Newmarket and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 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+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Newmarket 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% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Madbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Durham and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Newmarket 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 |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | — | #39 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newmarket School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.