Compare towns
Plainfield vs Derby Center vs Grantham vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Derby Center has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Derby Center | Grantham | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
693Lowest |
3,465Highest |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
61.1±7Highest 57% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Derby Center and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
38.2%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$58,250±$10kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| 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 33% above U.S. |
$196,600±$24kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$343,100±$39k 3% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| 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±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,078±$257Lowest 24% below U.S. |
— | $1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
$2,505Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$7,605 144% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.2%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby Center and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
16 minLowest 39% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Madbury 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 | — | #6 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Grantham School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school 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 |
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.