Compare towns
Derby Center vs Ludlow vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby Center has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.4%).
Ludlow has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Derby Center | Ludlow | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 693Lowest |
808 |
2,522Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 61.1±7Highest 57% above U.S. |
48.7±5.6 25% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Derby Center and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Derby Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.2%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±0.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Derby Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,250±$10k 28% below U.S. |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,600±$24kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$304,000±$32k 9% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$257 24% below U.S. |
$1,018±$91Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,505Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.2%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby Center and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 39% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Ludlow 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 |
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.