Compare towns
Madbury vs Newmarket vs Keene 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%).
Newmarket has the oldest population (median age 41.2).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
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 | Newmarket | Keene | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
9,463 |
22,939Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
41.2±1.9Highest 5% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Newmarket 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% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Keene 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% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Madbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Madbury and Newmarket 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 |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Newmarket 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 |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Newmarket and Keene 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% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Newmarket 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 | — | #39 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newmarket School District | Keene School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| 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.