Compare towns
Auburn vs Bennington 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
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Auburn | Bennington | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
1,588Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Auburn and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Auburn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092Highest 21% above NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Bennington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Contoocook Valley School District | 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 |
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.