Compare towns

Plainfield vs Derby Center 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 oldest population (median age 61.1).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldDerby CenterMadbury
People
Population
2,522Highest
693Lowest
2,203
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±6.5
about the U.S. average
61.1±7Highest
57% above U.S.
37.7±2.1Lowest
3% below U.S.
Kids under 18
23.4%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±6.3Lowest
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%
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%
52.6%Highest
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%
3.4%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
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
52% above U.S.
$58,250±$10kLowest
28% below 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.
$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.
$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%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.5%Lowest
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.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
17% below U.S.
16 minLowest
39% 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%
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 — —
School district Plainfield School District — Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.