Compare towns

Middlesex vs Plainfield vs Springfield vs Dummerston

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k 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.

MeasureMiddlesexPlainfieldSpringfieldDummerston
People
Population
1,943
2,522Highest
1,122Lowest
2,090
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
Springfield and Dummerston 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%
15.1%±8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Dummerston 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%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dummerston 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex and Plainfield 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.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$100,893±$19kLowest
25% above U.S.
$101,696±$21k
26% 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.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$384,100±$50k
15% above U.S.
$335,300±$22kLowest
about the U.S. average
Plainfield and Springfield 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.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,392±$126
about the U.S. average
Plainfield and Dummerston 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.
$5,946
91% above U.S.
$4,536Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dummerston 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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
4% above U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Dummerston 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 — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school 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.