Compare towns
Barnstead vs Brookfield 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
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 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 | Barnstead | Brookfield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
1,486 |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,560Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.