Compare towns
Gilsum vs Plainfield vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Gilsum | Plainfield | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 716Lowest |
2,522Highest |
1,052 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.8±8.1Highest 3% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
| Gilsum and Surry 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% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Surry and Plainfield 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% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Surry and Plainfield 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 |
$110,125±$25k 11% above NH |
| Plainfield and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,500±$32kLowest 40% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,575±$894Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
| Surry and Plainfield 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 |
$6,384 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Gilsum and Surry 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 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 |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±8.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Surry 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 History | 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.