Compare towns

Hartland vs Keene 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

Hartland has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
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.

MeasureHartlandKeenePlainfield
People
Population
3,460
22,939Highest
2,522Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.8±5.1Highest
43% above U.S.
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
38.9±6.5
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
16.5%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Hartland and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,136±$23k
7% above U.S.
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$348,600±$39k
5% above U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,342±$68Lowest
5% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,437Lowest
106% above U.S.
$6,812
118% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.1%±89.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Keene and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Keene 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 #29 of 70 in VT #81 of 120 in NH #19 of 120 in NH
School district Hartland School District Keene School District Plainfield School District
High school in town None in town Keene High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3
—
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.