Compare towns
Plainfield vs Madbury vs Ashland vs North 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 most people working from home (18.1%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
North Hartland has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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 | Madbury | Ashland | North Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Highest |
2,203 |
2,183 |
322Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
59.2±4.6Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±17.2Lowest 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% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±12.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashland and North Hartland 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% |
52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±4.4Lowest 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. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$54,607±$9k 32% below U.S. |
$51,161±$50kLowest 37% below 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. |
$476,900±$31kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$420,000±$354k 26% 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. |
$1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
$1,096±$155Lowest 22% below 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,961Lowest 59% above U.S. |
— |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Hartland and Ashland 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
28.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
0%±8.8Lowest 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 | Ashland 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.