Compare towns
Meredith vs Plainfield vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k 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 | Meredith | Plainfield | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Norwich 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.