Compare towns
Madbury vs Mapleton vs Plainfield vs Durham
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Mapleton | Plainfield | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
1,884Lowest |
2,522 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Durham 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Durham 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 11% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Plainfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.