Compare towns
Madbury vs Lee vs Plymouth 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%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Lee | Plymouth | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
4,576 |
6,601Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Madbury and Lee 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 |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Lee and Madbury 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 |
— | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Madbury 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Lee and Plymouth 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.