Compare towns
Alstead vs Kingston vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Kingston has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% 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 | Alstead | Kingston | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
6,275Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
55.5±5.7 28% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Alstead and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Alstead and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.1% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Plainfield and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Kingston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Kingston 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 | — | #78 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.