Compare towns
North Hartland vs Plainfield vs Athens vs West Burke
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 most renters (46% rent).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
West Burke has the most people working from home (20%).
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 | West Burke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 322 |
2,522Highest |
431 |
161Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 59.2±4.6Highest 52% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
59.2±16.3Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±17.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Athens 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% |
31.1%±13.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Burke 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.7% 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%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Burke and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,161±$50k 37% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$68,438±$30k 15% below U.S. |
$27,321±$15kLowest 66% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,000±$354k 26% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$275,000±$60k 17% 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. |
$525±$373Lowest 63% 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. |
$3,194Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
77.8%±31.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Burke 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% |
20.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 0%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Burke and Athens 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.