Compare towns
Eliot vs Norwich 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
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable 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.
| Measure | Eliot | Norwich | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
3,640 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #1 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Norwich School District | Plainfield School District |
| 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 |
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.