Compare towns
Plainfield vs Marlborough 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%).
Marlborough has the most affordable homes ($267k 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 | Marlborough | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Highest |
2,207 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
46±9.2Highest 6% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Marlborough and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.7 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Marlborough 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% |
23.7%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Marlborough 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% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$69,032±$9kLowest 30% 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 |
$267,200±$35kLowest 34% 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 |
$1,133±$323Lowest 24% 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 |
$6,362Lowest 5% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±25.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Marlborough 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% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
21 minLowest 21% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.3%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | Marlborough School District | Oyster River Coop 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 |
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.