Compare towns
Plainfield vs Appleton vs Union vs Sanbornton
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Sanbornton has the most expensive homes ($452k 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 | Appleton | Union | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
1,360Lowest |
2,663 |
3,053Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
41.9±5.4 8% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Sanbornton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Appleton 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 52% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$113,750±$41k 41% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$452,300±$30kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Sanbornton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,289±$198 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,731 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.3%±23.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Union 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 | — | — | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.