Compare towns
Madbury vs Norwich vs Plainfield vs Holderness
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%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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 | Norwich | Plainfield | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
3,640Highest |
2,522 |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2Highest 5% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
| Norwich and Holderness 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% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and Norwich 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% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$107,863±$45kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Norwich 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. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$363,100±$60kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Holderness 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Norwich 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% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer 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. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District | Plainfield School District | Holderness 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.