Compare towns
Madbury vs Chester 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 the most kids (29% under 18).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Chester | Plainfield | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
5,300Highest |
2,522 |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
| Chester 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% |
19.6%±3.7 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% |
17.4%±4 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% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Chester 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 |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
| Madbury and Chester 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 |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
— | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
| Holderness and Plainfield 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 |
$8,464 27% 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% |
19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Plainfield and Holderness 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 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 |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Chester 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 | — | #90 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Chester 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.