Compare towns
New Braintree vs Plainfield vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Braintree has the most affordable homes ($409k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
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 | New Braintree | Plainfield | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 973Lowest |
2,522Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±4.6 23% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest 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% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Braintree and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest 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% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Oakham 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. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $408,800±$27kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$316 5% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below 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 | $5,508 77% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±51.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 39% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Oakham 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 | Quabbin |
| 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 |
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.