Compare towns
North Hartland vs Plainfield vs Athens vs Derby Center
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Hartland has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Derby Center has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | North Hartland | Plainfield | Athens | Derby Center |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 322Lowest |
2,522Highest |
431 |
693 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.6 52% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
61.1±7Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Derby Center and North Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Derby Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23%±12.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
38.2%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby Center and North Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athens and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,161±$50kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$68,438±$30k 15% below U.S. |
$58,250±$10k 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,000±$354k 26% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$240,400±$32k 28% below U.S. |
$196,600±$24kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and North Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
$1,078±$257Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | — | $7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,438 74% above U.S. |
$2,505Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.2%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby Center and North Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 28.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
16 minLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 0%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Plainfield 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 | — | Plainfield School District | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.