Compare towns
Plainfield vs Gorham vs Ashfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most kids (19% under 18).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Ashfield has the most expensive homes ($401k median).
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 | Plainfield | Gorham | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
2,682Highest |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5Lowest 30% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
58.6±3.4Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Ashfield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±9.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashfield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$14k 21% below U.S. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Ashfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47k 7% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$400,600±$30kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558Highest 9% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,100±$200 22% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,458 43% above U.S. |
$4,334Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$5,197Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±34Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashfield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Ashfield 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 | — | #57 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.