Compare towns
Plainfield vs Auburn vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Auburn | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
6,119 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
| Auburn and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Windham 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Auburn School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.