Compare towns
Madbury vs Durham vs Portsmouth 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 the most kids (29% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Portsmouth | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
10,681 |
22,545Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Portsmouth 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 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%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Plainfield 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% 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±$31k 18% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Portsmouth 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Portsmouth 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Portsmouth School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.