Compare towns
Milford vs Plainfield vs Center Harbor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
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 | Milford | Plainfield | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
2,522 |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
| Plainfield and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$463,800±$74kHighest 15% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
— |
| Plainfield and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Milford 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Milford School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Milford High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.