Compare towns
Madbury vs Keene 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Holderness has the oldest population (median age 39.4).
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 | Keene | Plainfield | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
22,939Highest |
2,522 |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
39.4±7.4Highest 9% below NH |
| Holderness 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 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% |
19.5%±1.8 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% |
44.1%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% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below 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 |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below 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 |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Plainfield 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% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Keene 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Keene School District | Plainfield School District | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.