Compare towns
Madbury vs Hanover vs Hampton Falls 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).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Hampton Falls has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hampton Falls | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
11,685Highest |
2,328 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls 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 |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Hampton Falls School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.