Compare towns
Ashland vs Berwick 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
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Ashland | Berwick | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
8,175Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Highest 9% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Ashland and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashland and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 59% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Plainfield 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 | — | #101 of 133 in ME | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.