Compare towns
Eliot vs Lee 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
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
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 | Eliot | Lee | Madbury | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
4,576 |
2,203Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 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+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
— | $1,574±$759Lowest 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 | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% 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 | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 133 in ME | #3 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.