Compare towns
Madbury vs Newington vs Plainfield vs South Hampton
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).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Newington | Plainfield | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
939Lowest |
2,522Highest |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Newington and South Hampton 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% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±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%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington 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% |
62.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Newington 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 |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,889±$489 27% above NH |
| Newington and South Hampton 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 |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Newington 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and South Hampton 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 | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newington School District | Plainfield School District | South Hampton 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.