Compare towns
Enfield vs Plainfield vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Canterbury has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Enfield | Plainfield | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,475Highest |
2,522 |
2,353Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.7%±7.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Enfield and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
49.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,474±$19kLowest 4% below NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
| Canterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,800±$71kLowest about the NH average |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$443,700±$21kHighest 10% above NH |
| Canterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,181±$563Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,203Lowest 7% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$7,421 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.8%±16.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury 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 | #5 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Plainfield School District | Shaker Regional 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 |
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.