Compare towns
Braintree vs Springfield vs Plainfield vs Randolph
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%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,122 |
2,522 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% 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 |
40.4±7.4 4% 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% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Randolph 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% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% |
40.8% 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%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below 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. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph and Braintree 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest 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. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree 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 | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #55 of 70 in VT |
| 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 | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.4 |
| 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.