Compare towns
Holderness vs Plainfield vs South Berwick 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).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
South Berwick has the most renters (33% rent).
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 | Plainfield | South Berwick | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
2,522 |
3,381Highest |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
41.4±6.2Highest 6% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| South 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% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±5.4 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and South 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. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$90,972±$22kLowest 13% 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. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$396,700±$66k 19% 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. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,702±$76 20% above U.S. |
$1,574±$759Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Holderness and South Berwick 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. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$4,523 45% 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% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Madbury 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 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Holderness School District | Plainfield School District | — | Oyster River Coop 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 |
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.