Compare towns
Madbury vs Canterbury vs Plainfield vs Holderness
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Canterbury | Plainfield | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
2,353 |
2,522Highest |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
| Canterbury and Holderness 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% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest 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%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury 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±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
| Madbury and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
| Madbury and Canterbury 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 |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$2,068±$385 39% above NH |
| Canterbury and Holderness 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 |
$7,421 11% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury 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 | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Shaker Regional School District | Plainfield School District | Holderness 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.