Compare towns
Jackson vs Plainfield vs Chatham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
Bordering JacksonBartlett
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Chatham has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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 | Jackson | Plainfield | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 897 |
2,522Highest |
430Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
48.3±8.6 12% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±7.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±10 NH: 20.1% |
| Jackson and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
38.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
5.8%±3.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Chatham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,986±$46k 19% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$66,042±$19kLowest 33% below NH |
| Plainfield and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$362,900±$42kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
— |
| Jackson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,001 10% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Chatham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 31% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson and Plainfield 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 | Jackson 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 | 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.