Compare towns
Amherst vs Hartland vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Hartland has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
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 | Amherst | Hartland | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
3,460 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
55.8±5.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartland and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$86,136±$23kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$348,600±$39kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S. |
— | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$6,437Lowest 106% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.1%±89.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | #29 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Hartland School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.