Compare towns
Plainfield vs Hampton Beach 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
2,605Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 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 |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% 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±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Madbury 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 |
$1,375±$130Lowest 8% 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 |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | — | — |
| 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 |
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.