Compare towns
Middlesex vs Plainfield vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Middlesex | Plainfield | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,314Lowest |
7,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Stratham 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 | — | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.