What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most kids (19% under 18).

Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plainfield	Hampton Beach
People
Population	616Lowest	2,605Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±9.5Lowest 30% above U.S.	60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S.
	Hampton Beach and Plainfield 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%	3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	29.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampton Beach and Plainfield 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%	34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,500±$14kLowest 21% below U.S.	$82,557±$17kHighest about the U.S. average
	Hampton Beach 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±$47kLowest 7% below U.S.	$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$558Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average
	Hampton Beach and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,458Lowest 43% above U.S.	$6,115Highest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton Beach and Plainfield 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%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 44% above U.S.	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	26.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton Beach and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.