Compare towns
Madbury vs Windham 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 the most kids (29% under 18).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
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 | Windham | Hanover | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
16,038Highest |
11,685 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
41.1±2.9Highest 5% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Windham 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% |
27.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Windham 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% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Hanover 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% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
| Windham and Hanover 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 |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Windham School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.