Compare towns
Plainfield vs Windham vs Middlesex 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).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Highest |
594Lowest |
1,943 |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Middlesex 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% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% 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±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| 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 18% above U.S. |
— | $1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
$5,951Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% 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% |
41.2%±94Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.