What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Durham	Plainfield
People
Population	4,262Highest	2,522Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±5.9Highest 10% above U.S.	38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average
	Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,181±$5kLowest 23% above U.S.	$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$322,200±$34kLowest 3% below U.S.	$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,674±$181 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,781Lowest 21% above U.S.	$7,904Highest 153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	31.8%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Durham 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	#14 of 133 in ME	#19 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 05	Plainfield School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.