Compare towns
Madbury vs Rollinsford vs Hanover vs Plainfield
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%).
Rollinsford has the most affordable homes ($398k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Rollinsford | Hanover | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
2,626 |
11,685Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
38.9±6.5Highest 10% below NH |
| Plainfield and Rollinsford 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% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 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%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Hanover 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 |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,809±$394 21% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Hanover and Rollinsford 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 |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Rollinsford 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% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Rollinsford 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 | — | #94 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Rollinsford School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.