Compare towns

Plainfield vs St. Albans vs White River Junction vs Madbury

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%).
St. Albans has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldSt. AlbansWhite River JunctionMadbury
People
Population
2,522
6,954Highest
3,364
2,203Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±6.5Highest
about the U.S. average
38.7±2
about the U.S. average
33.7±3.2Lowest
13% below U.S.
37.7±2.1
3% below U.S.
Plainfield and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.4%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
29%±5.9Highest
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%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.9%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
12.5%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.3%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Plainfield and Madbury 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%
31.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.8
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.
$57,980±$7kLowest
28% below U.S.
$77,168±$4k
4% below U.S.
$148,365±$30kHighest
84% above 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.
$263,400±$18kLowest
21% below U.S.
$278,800±$78k
16% below U.S.
$476,900±$31kHighest
43% 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.
$1,150±$78Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,222±$216
14% below U.S.
$1,574±$759
11% above 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.
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
$5,651
81% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
51.8%±11.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±17.3
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±15.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
St. Albans and White River Junction 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%
19.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
49%
U.S.: 65.2%
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
17% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
25 minHighest
4% below U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and White River Junction 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 #46 of 70 in VT — —
School district Plainfield School District Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 — Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town None in town Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4
— —
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.