Compare towns
Plainfield vs Meredith vs Windham 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
6,758 |
16,038Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below 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% |
27.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Windham 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% |
15.5%±2.6 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% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Windham 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Windham 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±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 19% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above 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%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Meredith 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Windham School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.