Compare towns
Madbury vs Kittery vs Plainfield vs Kensington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
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 | Kittery | Plainfield | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
10,473Highest |
2,522 |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 84% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Kittery 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$9,637 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Kittery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery and Kensington 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 | — | #17 of 133 in ME | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Kittery Public Schools | Plainfield School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.