Compare towns
Madbury vs Weare vs Durham 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%).
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Weare | Durham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
9,170 |
15,080Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Weare 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% |
22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$118,271±$17kLowest 19% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Madbury and Durham 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 |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Durham and Madbury 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 |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% 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 |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$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% |
62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Weare 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and Durham 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 | — | #84 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | John Stark Regional High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.