Compare towns
Athens vs Plainfield vs Sanbornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Sanbornton has the most expensive homes ($452k median).
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 | Athens | Plainfield | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
2,522 |
3,053Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Highest 22% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.9±5.4 8% above U.S. |
| Athens and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athens and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athens and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$113,750±$41k 41% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$452,300±$30kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Sanbornton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,289±$198 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438Lowest 74% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,731 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athens and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school 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.