Compare towns
Madbury vs South Hampton vs Holderness 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 the most kids (29% under 18).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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 Hampton | Holderness | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
984Lowest |
1,917 |
2,522Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| South Hampton and Holderness 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% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest 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% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield 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±$30k 50% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Holderness and South Hampton 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 |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plainfield and South Hampton 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and South Hampton 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 | — | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | South Hampton School District | Holderness School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.