What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k median).

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	Gilsum	Plainfield
People
Population	716Lowest	2,522Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.8±8.1Highest 3% above NH	38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH
	Gilsum and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Plainfield and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	46.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.3Lowest NH: 6%	4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6%
	Plainfield and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,417±$7kLowest 19% below NH	$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$241,500±$32kLowest 40% below NH	$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,575±$894Lowest 6% above NH	$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH
	Plainfield and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,579Lowest 16% below NH	$7,904Highest 19% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2%	31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Gilsum and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	22 minLowest 18% below NH
Work from home	11.9%±8.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Plainfield and Gilsum 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	Monadnock Regional 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

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.