Compare towns
Plainfield vs Webster vs Madbury vs Grantham
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 most people working from home (18.1%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
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 | Webster | Madbury | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
2,227 |
2,203Lowest |
3,465Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
| Grantham and Webster 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% |
22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.8%±6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$106,403±$54kLowest 7% above NH |
| 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 10% above NH |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$343,100±$39k 15% below NH |
| 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 12% above NH |
$1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
— |
| 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 19% above NH |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,605 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
— |
| Webster and Plainfield 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% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
96% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
31 minHighest 14% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
23 min 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Webster 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 | — | — | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Grantham 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.