Compare towns
Madison vs New Hampton 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
Madison has the most homeowners (94.4%).
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Madison | New Hampton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680Highest |
2,509Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7 16% above NH |
51.7±2.7Highest 19% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| New Hampton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| New Hampton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
$95,250±$35kLowest 4% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Plainfield and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
$383,700±$37kLowest 5% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
| Plainfield and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256 4% above NH |
$749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$4,973 25% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and New 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 | Madison School District | Newfound Area School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.