Compare towns
Middlesex vs Newfane vs Plainfield vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Newfane has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Middlesex | Newfane | Plainfield | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,456Lowest |
2,522Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfane and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$284,200±$49kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Plainfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,174Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfane and Calais 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Plainfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.