Compare towns
Plainfield vs Hampton Beach vs Hawley
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 youngest population (median age 50.6).
Hampton Beach has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Hawley has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Hampton Beach | Hawley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616 |
2,605Highest |
277Lowest |
| 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. |
56.8±7.2 46% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Hawley 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% |
17.7%±10 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Hawley 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% |
33.7%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hawley and Hampton Beach 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% |
39.4% 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% |
2.2%±5.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$14kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$87,500±$26kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Hawley and Hampton Beach 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. |
$309,600±$38k 7% below 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 | $4,458 43% above U.S. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,097Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Hawley 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±12.6Lowest 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 | 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.