Compare towns
Plainfield vs Ashland vs Madbury vs Rollinsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Plainfield | Ashland | Madbury | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
2,183Lowest |
2,203 |
2,626Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
| Ashland and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8Lowest 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+ | 19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5 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 | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$89,500±$26k 10% below NH |
| Madbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$398,100±$33k about the NH average |
| Madbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH |
| Rollinsford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 19% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,851 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Rollinsford and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford and Plainfield 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 | — | — | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Ashland School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Rollinsford 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.