Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Plainfield vs Plymouth
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 oldest population (median age 60.4).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Plymouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
2,522 |
4,969Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+6.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$89,500±$32kLowest 10% 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 |
$294,400±$28kLowest 27% 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±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,296±$295Lowest 13% below NH |
| Plainfield and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$6,483 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 8% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Plymouth 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 | #47 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.