Compare towns
Grantham vs Kensington 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
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Grantham | Kensington | Madbury | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,465Highest |
2,009Lowest |
2,203 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Grantham and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest 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+ | 17%±6.9 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54kLowest 7% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Kensington and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Kensington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,605Lowest 14% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plainfield and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
1.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 16% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington 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 | #6 of 120 in NH | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Grantham School District | Kensington 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 | 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.