Compare towns
Kingston vs Meredith vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kingston has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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.
| Measure | Kingston | Meredith | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,275 |
6,758Highest |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Plainfield and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Kingston and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906Highest 19% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
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| 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.