Compare towns
Plainfield vs Kensington vs Madbury vs Hartland
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Hartland has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Kensington | Madbury | Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
2,009Lowest |
2,203 |
3,460Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
55.8±5.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.6Lowest 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% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartland 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Kensington 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. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30k 84% above U.S. |
$86,136±$23kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Madbury 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. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
$348,600±$39kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,574±$759Lowest 11% above U.S. |
— |
| Kensington and Plainfield 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. |
$9,637 209% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,437Lowest 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.1%±89.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Hartland 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% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kensington 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 | — | — | #29 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hartland 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 |
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.