What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).

Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).

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	Hancock	Plainfield
People
Population	1,791Lowest	2,522Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH	38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH
Kids under 18	15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2%	23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2%
	Plainfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1%	19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6%	4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6%
	Plainfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH	$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH
	Plainfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,700±$22kLowest 8% above NH	$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH
	Plainfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH	$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH
	Plainfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,884Lowest 3% above NH	$7,904Highest 19% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.4%±55.6Highest NH: 48.2%	31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hancock and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	5.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	87.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above NH	22 minLowest 18% below NH
Work from home	14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Plainfield and Hancock 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	Contoocook Valley 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.