Compare towns
Derry vs Plainfield vs Sanbornton
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 most renters (29.8% rent).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sanbornton has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
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 | Plainfield | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.9±5.4Highest 3% below NH |
| Sanbornton and Derry 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5Lowest 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% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sanbornton and Plainfield 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% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$452,300±$30kHighest 12% above NH |
| Sanbornton and Plainfield 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 |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,289±$198Lowest 14% below 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 |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Plainfield 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% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1Lowest 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Plainfield School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9 |
— | — |
| 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.