Compare towns
Guilford vs Thornton vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Guilford has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Guilford | Thornton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,461 |
2,799Highest |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2Lowest 20% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Guilford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Guilford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thornton and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,243±$6k 7% below U.S. |
$90,022±$17kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Thornton and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,600±$39kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$351,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Thornton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$273Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428 10% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Guilford and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,827Highest 87% above U.S. |
$5,032 61% above U.S. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Guilford 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Thornton School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.