Compare towns
Middlesex vs Plainfield vs Ripton vs Westford
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 people working from home (28.4%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Westford has the most renters (13.9% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Ripton | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
2,522Highest |
508Lowest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Middlesex 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
— | $2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Plainfield 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Westford 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 | Plainfield School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| 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 | 6 photos → |
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.