Compare towns
Madbury vs Plaistow vs Hopkinton
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 the most kids (29% under 18).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Hopkinton has the most people working from home (23.8%).
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 | Plaistow | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
7,861Highest |
6,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
| Hopkinton and Plaistow 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% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton 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 |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
| Madbury and Hopkinton 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 |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
| Hopkinton 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 |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
| Plaistow 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 |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Hopkinton 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% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton 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 | — | #66 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hopkinton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Hopkinton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| 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.