Compare towns
Plainfield vs Meredith 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).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Meredith | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
6,758Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% 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 |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Meredith 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 |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% 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 |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith 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% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.