What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).

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.

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

Measure	Fairlee	Plainfield
People
Population	1,066Lowest	2,522Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S.	38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S.	$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S.	$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S.	$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,617Lowest 80% above U.S.	$7,904Highest 153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Fairlee 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	Rivendell Interstate School District	Plainfield School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.