Compare towns
Madbury vs Newington vs Thetford vs Plainfield
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 the most kids (29% under 18).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Thetford | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
939Lowest |
2,813Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
| Newington and Thetford 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% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 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% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington and Thetford 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% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
68%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford 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±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46k 81% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Newington 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. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
| Newington 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,081Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Thetford 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Madbury 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 | — | — | #40 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newington School District | Thetford 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 |
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.