Compare towns
Plainfield vs Stratham vs North Hartland 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
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
North Hartland has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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 | Stratham | North Hartland | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
7,754Highest |
322Lowest |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
59.2±4.6Highest 52% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±12.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hartland and Stratham 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% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Stratham 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. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$51,161±$50kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$148,365±$30k 84% above U.S. |
| Stratham 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±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$420,000±$354kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
— | $1,574±$759Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Lowest 153% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% 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% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and North Hartland 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
28.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school 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 |
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.