Compare towns
Eliot vs Madbury vs Plainfield vs Rollinsford
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).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Madbury | Plainfield | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
2,203Lowest |
2,522 |
2,626 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
38.8±5.5 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 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±4.8 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% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.9 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+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$89,500±$26kLowest 11% 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 | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$398,100±$33kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Madbury 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. |
$1,809±$394 28% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Rollinsford 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$6,851 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±26.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rollinsford 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District | Rollinsford 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 | 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.