What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Braintree has the oldest population (median age 47.8).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	New Braintree	Plainfield
People
Population	973Lowest	2,522Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.8±4.6Highest 23% above U.S.	38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average
	New Braintree and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	New Braintree and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,500±$8kLowest 23% above U.S.	$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$408,800±$27kLowest 23% above U.S.	$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S.
	Plainfield and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,484±$316Lowest 5% above U.S.	$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S.
	Plainfield and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,508Lowest 77% above U.S.	$7,904Highest 153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±51.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	New Braintree and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 39% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	7.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and New Braintree 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	Quabbin	Plainfield School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.