Compare towns
Holderness vs Madbury vs Center Harbor vs Plymouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Holderness | Madbury | Center Harbor | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917 |
2,203 |
955Lowest |
6,601Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Madbury and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Madbury and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
— | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Holderness and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,667 30% below NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plymouth and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Madbury and Plymouth 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 | — | — | — | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.