Compare towns

Auburn 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

Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($369k 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.

MeasureAuburnBerwickPlainfield
People
Population
6,119
8,175Highest
2,522Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+20%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±5.9Highest
14% above U.S.
40.7±2.9
5% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Auburn and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.3%±4.3Lowest
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+
13.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Plainfield and Berwick 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
U.S.: 35.7%
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
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
90% above U.S.
$94,771±$24kLowest
17% above U.S.
$122,656±$13k
52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$600,300±$29kHighest
80% above U.S.
$369,100±$19kLowest
11% above U.S.
$442,400±$47k
33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,893±$822Highest
34% above U.S.
$1,452±$430Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,674±$181
18% above U.S.
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
159% above U.S.
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
$7,904
153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.6%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±46Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Berwick 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
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
26.5%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.2%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Auburn and Berwick 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 #101 of 133 in ME #19 of 120 in NH
School district Auburn 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.