Compare towns

Dummerston vs Plainfield vs Springfield vs Middlesex

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 most affordable homes ($335k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).

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.

MeasureDummerstonPlainfieldSpringfieldMiddlesex
People
Population
2,090
2,522Highest
1,122Lowest
1,943
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
Springfield 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%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1
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%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Dummerston and Middlesex 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%
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Highest
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.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$100,893±$19kLowest
25% above U.S.
$109,632±$13k
36% 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±$22kLowest
about the U.S. average
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$384,100±$50k
15% above U.S.
$376,300±$40k
13% above U.S.
Plainfield and Springfield 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
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,333±$359
6% below 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.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$5,946
91% above U.S.
$6,483
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dummerston and Plainfield 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%
5.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Dummerston 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 Plainfield School District — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school 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.