Compare towns
Derry vs Keene 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
Derry has the oldest population (median age 40.3).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
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 | Derry | Keene | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
22,939 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Highest 7% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Derry and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Plainfield and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
| Plainfield and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Keene School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.