What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charleston has the oldest population (median age 58.4).

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	Charleston	Plainfield
People
Population	936Lowest	2,522Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S.	38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S.	$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$238,000±$53kLowest 28% below U.S.	$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$979±$444Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,750Lowest 20% above U.S.	$7,904Highest 153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±26.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Charleston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Charleston 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	Charleston School District	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.