Compare towns
Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Newfane 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
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Dummerston | Middlesex | Newfane | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,943 |
1,456Lowest |
2,522Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Newfane and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfane and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$284,200±$49kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfane and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Middlesex 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.