Compare towns
Madbury vs Plaistow vs New Ipswich vs Holderness
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%).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
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 | Plaistow | New Ipswich | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
7,861Highest |
5,310 |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
40.1±3.7Highest 7% below NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
| Plaistow and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Madbury and Plaistow 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±$13k 9% above NH |
$110,507±$9k 12% above NH |
$107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
| Madbury and New Ipswich 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 |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
| Holderness and Plaistow 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 |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$5,647 15% below NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich and Plaistow 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% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Madbury and Plaistow 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 | #82 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Mascenic Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
11.7Highest |
— |
| 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.