Compare towns
Madbury vs Derry vs Plainfield
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%).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Derry | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
34,116Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
40.3±1.6Highest 7% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Derry and Plainfield 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% |
20.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 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% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Derry 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 |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Madbury and Plainfield 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 |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Madbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Madbury 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 |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Plainfield 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Derry 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 | — | #60 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.