Compare towns
Ludlow vs Plainfield vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has the most renters (48.6% rent).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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 | Ludlow | Plainfield | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 808Lowest |
2,522Highest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.7±5.6Highest 25% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.7±5.8 7% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±0.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,667±$19kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$57,159±$10k 29% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,000±$32k 9% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$156,300±$18kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$91 28% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$810±$94Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,019Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ludlow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.3%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Ludlow 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 | — | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.