Compare towns

Holderness vs Madbury vs Newington vs Center Harbor

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).

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.

MeasureHoldernessMadburyNewingtonCenter Harbor
People
Population
1,917
2,203Highest
939Lowest
955
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.9%
NH: +4.6%
+8.3%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+7.7%
NH: +4.6%
-5.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
39.4±7.4
9% below NH
37.7±2.1Lowest
13% below NH
48.7±10.1
12% above NH
60.4±4.8Highest
39% above NH
Center Harbor and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.7%±9.3
NH: 18.2%
29%±5.9Highest
NH: 18.2%
15.7%±4.9
NH: 18.2%
11.9%±5.4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
31.4%±4.6
NH: 20.1%
14.3%±2.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
28%±11
NH: 20.1%
39.5%±13.2Highest
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%
NH: 40.6%
52.6%
NH: 40.6%
62.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
47.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.6
NH: 6%
3.4%±1.8
NH: 6%
3.9%±1.8Highest
NH: 6%
0.9%±1.1Lowest
NH: 6%
Newington and Madbury 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
9% above NH
$148,365±$30kHighest
50% above NH
$145,833±$46k
47% above NH
$104,313±$16kLowest
5% above NH
Madbury and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$363,100±$60kLowest
10% below NH
$476,900±$31k
18% above NH
$861,600±$46kHighest
114% above NH
$463,800±$74k
15% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,068±$385
39% above NH
$1,574±$759Lowest
6% above NH
$2,292±$795Highest
54% above NH
—
Newington and Holderness 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
$6,081
9% below NH
$4,667
30% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.5%±21.2
NH: 48.2%
16.7%±15.2
NH: 48.2%
62.9%±44Highest
NH: 48.2%
14.3%±59.4Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Newington and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4.9%
NH: 7.2%
4%
NH: 7.2%
2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%
NH: 72.8%
82.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
86.9%
NH: 72.8%
91%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Lowest
2 yrs newer than NH
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the NH average
25 min
5% below NH
23 minLowest
13% below NH
25 min
8% below NH
Work from home
9.4%±4.1
NH: 16.8%
14%±3.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
8%±2.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
8.9%±5
NH: 16.8%
Madbury and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Holderness School District Oyster River Coop School District Newington School District —
High school 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.