Compare towns
Pittston vs Plainfield vs Alfred
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pittston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Alfred has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
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 | Pittston | Plainfield | Alfred |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,093 |
2,522Lowest |
3,125Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±5.9 6% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.9±5.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Alfred and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alfred and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pittston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,614±$18k 7% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$82,321±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,700±$66kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$342,300±$38k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$593 24% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,035±$432Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,909Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,543 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
82.2%±29.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alfred and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Alfred 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 | #123 of 133 in ME | #19 of 120 in NH | #74 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | Plainfield School District | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| 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.