Compare towns
Plainfield vs Windham vs Stratham vs Madbury
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
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 | Stratham | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
16,038Highest |
7,754 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Stratham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham 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 NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,511±$377 68% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Windham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Windham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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 |
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.