Compare towns
Holderness vs Plymouth vs Madbury 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
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 22.8).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% 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 | Plymouth | Madbury | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917 |
4,969Highest |
2,203 |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest 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% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 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% |
63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$89,500±$32kLowest 10% below NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$104,313±$16k 5% above 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 |
$294,400±$28kLowest 27% below NH |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$463,800±$74k 15% above 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 |
$1,296±$295Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above 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 |
$6,483 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,667 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest 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% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older 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 |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest 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 | — |
| High school 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.