What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plainfield	Brighton
People
Population	2,522Highest	1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average	45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S.
	Brighton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Brighton 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%	27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brighton 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 U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Brighton 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.	$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S.	$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S.	$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,904Highest 153% above U.S.	$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brighton 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 U.S.: 12.5%	22%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Brighton 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	Brighton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.