Compare towns
Plymouth vs Center Harbor 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
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Center Harbor | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,601Highest |
955Lowest |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
| Madbury and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
— | $1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH |
| Madbury and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288 6% below NH |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Plymouth and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Madbury and Plymouth 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | — | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.