Compare towns
Plainfield vs Windham vs Norwich 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 affordable homes ($442k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Norwich has the most renters (28.1% rent).
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 | Windham | Norwich | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
16,038Highest |
3,640 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Windham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and Windham 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% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Norwich 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% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30k 84% above U.S. |
| Windham 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±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
| Windham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Lowest 153% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Norwich 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Windham School District | Norwich School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.