Compare towns
Derby Center vs Plainfield vs Braintree
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%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Plainfield | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 693Lowest |
2,522Highest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 61.1±7Highest 57% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
58.4±2.4 50% above U.S. |
| Derby Center and Braintree 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby Center and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest 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±$10kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,600±$24kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$217,700±$28k 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$257 24% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,505Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.2%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby Center and Braintree 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 39% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 3.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.