What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k median).

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bethel	Plainfield
People
Population	1,736Lowest	2,522Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.7±3.7Highest 30% above U.S.	38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	11.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bethel and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,822±$7kLowest 6% below U.S.	$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$238,000±$41kLowest 28% below U.S.	$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,335±$220Lowest 6% below U.S.	$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S.
	Plainfield and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,168Lowest 66% above U.S.	$7,904Highest 153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bethel and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	7.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Bethel 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
School district	White River Unified School District #79	Plainfield School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.