Compare towns
Deerfield vs Northwood vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Deerfield | Northwood | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,932Highest |
4,688 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2Highest about the NH average |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Deerfield and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Northwood and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10kHighest 33% above NH |
$129,375±$23k 31% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
| Deerfield and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,000±$33k 5% above NH |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
| Plainfield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318 7% above NH |
$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,369 11% above NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plainfield and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield and Northwood 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #24 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.