Compare towns

Lebanon vs Madbury vs Plainfield vs Newmarket

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Newmarket has the oldest population (median age 41.2).

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.

MeasureLebanonMadburyPlainfieldNewmarket
People
Population
14,999Highest
2,203Lowest
2,522
9,463
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+8.3%
NH: +4.6%
+4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.5%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.9±3.1
10% below NH
37.7±2.1Lowest
13% below NH
38.9±6.5
10% below NH
41.2±1.9Highest
5% below NH
Newmarket and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.6%±2.4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
29%±5.9Highest
NH: 18.2%
23.4%±5.8
NH: 18.2%
15.6%±2.7
NH: 18.2%
Madbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±2.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
14.3%±2.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
19.8%±4.5
NH: 20.1%
16.1%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
Lebanon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.5%Highest
NH: 40.6%
52.6%
NH: 40.6%
46.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
49.7%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±2.6Highest
NH: 6%
3.4%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
4.8%±2.3
NH: 6%
5.6%±1.9
NH: 6%
Lebanon and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,147±$10kLowest
about the NH average
$148,365±$30kHighest
50% above NH
$122,656±$13k
24% above NH
$100,845±$13k
about the NH average
Madbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$385,400±$29kLowest
4% below NH
$476,900±$31kHighest
18% above NH
$442,400±$47k
10% above NH
$455,000±$22k
13% above NH
Madbury and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,744±$132Highest
17% above NH
$1,574±$759Lowest
6% above NH
$1,674±$181
12% above NH
$1,671±$69
12% above NH
Lebanon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,149
22% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$7,904Lowest
19% above NH
$8,734
31% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.9%±7.2
NH: 48.2%
16.7%±15.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
31.8%±23.1
NH: 48.2%
46.3%±8.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
Newmarket and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4.9%
NH: 7.2%
5.2%
NH: 7.2%
4.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
82.9%
NH: 72.8%
87.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
52.9%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
1 yr newer than NH
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
1977Lowest
2 yrs older than NH
1983
4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
48% below NH
25 min
5% below NH
22 min
18% below NH
28 minHighest
6% above NH
Work from home
22.8%±4.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
14%±3.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
18.1%±8.5
NH: 16.8%
17.3%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
Lebanon and Plainfield 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 #29 of 120 in NH — #19 of 120 in NH #39 of 120 in NH
School district Lebanon School District Oyster River Coop School District Plainfield School District Newmarket School District
High school in town Lebanon High School None in town None in town Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7Highest
— —
9.9Lowest
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.