What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).

Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).

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	Bridgewater
People
Population	2,522Highest	1,169Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH	58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH
Kids under 18	23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2%	10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1%	33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6%	1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Plainfield and Bridgewater 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	$82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH	$398,600±$65kLowest about the NH average
	Plainfield and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH	$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,904Highest 19% above NH	$2,823Lowest 58% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	32.1%±13.6Highest NH: 48.2%
	Bridgewater 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%	11.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1979Highest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 18% below NH	30 minHighest 13% above NH
Work from home	18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8%	8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Plainfield and Bridgewater 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	Newfound Area 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.