Compare towns
Meredith vs Plainfield vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k 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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
2,522 |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
| Meredith and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$384,100±$50kLowest 5% below NH |
| Meredith and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.