Compare towns
Franklin vs Northwood vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Northwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Franklin | Northwood | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,799Highest |
4,688 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±2Highest about the NH average |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Franklin and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Northwood and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.9% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,648±$4kLowest 28% below NH |
$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Northwood and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH |
$363,000±$13k 10% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$68Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,201±$372 19% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886Lowest 27% below NH |
$5,806 13% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Franklin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1970 9 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 18% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Northwood 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 | #112 of 120 in NH | #24 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Franklin School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Franklin High School | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
11.5Lowest |
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| 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.