Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Plainfield vs Eaton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Center Harbor has the most expensive homes ($464k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Eaton has the most people working from home (24.4%).
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.
| Measure | Center Harbor | Plainfield | Eaton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955 |
2,522Highest |
501Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
59.6±14 38% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Eaton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.6%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
41.3%±15.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Eaton and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
51.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.2%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Eaton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$79,063±$9kLowest 20% below NH |
| Plainfield and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74kHighest 15% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$377,300±$62kLowest 6% below NH |
| Center Harbor and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667 30% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$4,014Lowest 40% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Plainfield and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
11%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
24.4%±12.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Eaton 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 | — |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.