Compare towns
Madbury vs Plainfield vs Wolfeboro
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 most affordable homes ($442k median).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
2,522 |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Madbury 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 50% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below 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±$31k 18% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Madbury 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 |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Plainfield and Madbury 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 |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Plainfield and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.