Compare towns
Madbury vs South Berwick vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
South Berwick has the most renters (21.7% rent).
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 | South Berwick | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
7,670Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
39±2.5Highest about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
| South Berwick 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 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and South Berwick 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and South Berwick 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 84% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
| 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 43% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
| 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±$759Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Plainfield 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and South Berwick 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 | — | #58 of 133 in ME | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.