Compare towns
Holderness vs Sidney vs Madbury vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Sidney | Madbury | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
4,790Highest |
2,203 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
| Sidney 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% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 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% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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 34% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% 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±$60k 9% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$476,900±$31kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% 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. |
$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% 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 | $3,923 26% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Sidney 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 | — | #15 of 133 in ME | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | RSU 18 | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield 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.