Compare towns
Plainfield vs Mont Vernon vs Brookline 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).
Mont Vernon has the most people working from home (26.6%).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Mont Vernon | Brookline | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
2,636 |
5,736Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
42.9±2.8Highest about the NH average |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Mont Vernon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Brookline and Mont Vernon 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 |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Brookline and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Brookline and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$9,432 41% above 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% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon and Brookline 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Mont Vernon School District | Brookline School District | Oyster River Coop 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 |
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.