Compare towns
Braintree vs Springfield vs Plainfield vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Braintree | Springfield | Plainfield | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,122 |
2,522Highest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Brookfield 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% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kLowest about the U.S. average |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$975±$306 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Braintree and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Braintree 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Plainfield School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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 | 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.