Compare towns
Plainfield vs Stoneham 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
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 | Stoneham | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
23,355Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
42.2±2.2Highest 8% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Stoneham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest 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%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoneham 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Stoneham 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. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above 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±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,574±$759Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% 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% |
41.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoneham and Plainfield 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% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Stoneham | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Stoneham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.