Compare towns
Madbury vs Hanover vs Stratham 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%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Stratham has the oldest population (median age 41.6).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Hanover | Stratham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
8,479Highest |
7,754 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Stratham 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Stratham 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% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham 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% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
| Hanover and Stratham 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 |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Stratham and Hanover 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 |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school 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.