What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).

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	Franconia	Plainfield
People
Population	1,060Lowest	2,522Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55.6±7Highest 28% above NH	38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH
Kids under 18	15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2%
	Plainfield and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1%	19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±5.4Highest NH: 6%	4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6%
	Franconia and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH	$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH
	Plainfield and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$530,300±$96kHighest 32% above NH	$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH
	Franconia and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH	$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH
	Plainfield and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,451Lowest 12% above NH	$7,904Highest 19% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2%	31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Franconia and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	87.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 25% below NH	22 minHighest 18% below NH
Work from home	11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Plainfield and Franconia 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	Lafayette Regional School District	Plainfield School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.