Compare towns
Holderness vs Berwick vs Plainfield vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Holderness | Berwick | Plainfield | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
8,175Highest |
2,522 |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
40.7±2.9Highest 5% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Berwick and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest 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+ | 31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45k 34% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% 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 | $363,100±$60kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
| Holderness and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,436 42% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick 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 | — | #101 of 133 in ME | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Holderness School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Plainfield School District | Oyster River Coop 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.