Compare towns
Madbury vs Auburn vs Plainfield vs Kensington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
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 | Madbury | Auburn | Plainfield | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
6,119Highest |
2,522 |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Auburn and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest 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+ | 14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
| Kensington and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
| Kensington and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
| Auburn and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Plainfield and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Kensington 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 | — | #44 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Auburn School District | Plainfield School District | Kensington 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 |
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.