Compare towns
Barrington vs Plainfield vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Barrington | Plainfield | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489 |
2,522Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
38.9±6.5Highest 10% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Plainfield and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Plainfield and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30k about the NH average |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Plainfield and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Barrington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121 7% above NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington 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 | #65 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Plainfield School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| 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.