Compare towns
Madbury vs New Boston vs Nottingham 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).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Nottingham has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | New Boston | Nottingham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
6,165Highest |
5,357 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38.8±3.4 10% below NH |
38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
38.9±6.5Highest 10% below NH |
| Plainfield and New Boston 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% |
27.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and New Boston 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% |
17%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Nottingham 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 NH: 40.6% |
44.4% NH: 40.6% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±3 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Nottingham and Plainfield 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 50% above NH |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
$122,201±$20kLowest 23% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| New Boston 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 18% above NH |
$481,100±$59kHighest 20% above NH |
$457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| New Boston 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 |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Nottingham 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 |
$8,181 23% above NH |
$7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham 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% |
6.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
34 min 27% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #21 of 120 in NH | #15 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | New Boston School District | Nottingham School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.