What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).

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	Alstead
People
Population	2,522Highest	1,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Highest NH: +4.6%	-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH
Kids under 18	23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Alstead and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6%
	Plainfield and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH	$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH	$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,674±$181 12% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,904Highest 19% above NH	$5,322Lowest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Alstead and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	76%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 18% below NH	32 minHighest 19% above NH
Work from home	18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8%	12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Plainfield and Alstead 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	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.