Compare towns
Jaffrey vs Plainfield vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Plaistow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
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 | Jaffrey | Plainfield | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,448 |
1,314Lowest |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±3.9 10% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Jaffrey and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plaistow and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,330±$18k 14% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,500±$27kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$202Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,196 99% above U.S. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±23Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Plaistow 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 | #87 of 120 in NH | — | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | — | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Conant Middle High School (H) | — | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 21.3Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.