Compare towns
Madbury vs Somersworth vs Pembroke 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%).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Pembroke has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Somersworth | Pembroke | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
12,111Highest |
7,438 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Pembroke and Plainfield 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% |
19.9%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Pembroke 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% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Pembroke 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% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Somersworth 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±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above 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±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Madbury and Plainfield 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 |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above 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 |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Pembroke 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% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Pembroke 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 | — | #117 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Somersworth School District | Pembroke School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Somersworth High School | Pembroke Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| 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.