Compare towns
Plainfield vs Enfield vs Keene vs Madbury
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 most people working from home (18.1%).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Enfield | Keene | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
4,475 |
22,939Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
-2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest 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% |
30.7%±7.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Enfield 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% |
43%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$95,474±$19k 4% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above 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 |
$390,800±$71k about the NH average |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
| 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 12% above NH |
$1,181±$563Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| 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 19% above NH |
$6,203Lowest 7% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
17.8%±16.7 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Keene 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 | #5 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.