Compare towns
Madbury vs Plainfield vs Canterbury vs Kensington
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%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Canterbury has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k 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 | Plainfield | Canterbury | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
2,522Highest |
2,353 |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Canterbury and Kensington 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% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest 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% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Canterbury 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury 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 |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
| Kensington 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 |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
| Canterbury and Kensington 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 |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$7,421Lowest 11% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
5.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury and Kensington 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 | Plainfield School District | Shaker Regional School District | Kensington 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.