Compare towns
Plainfield vs Brookline vs Eliot
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 most affordable homes ($442k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Brookline | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
5,736 |
7,146Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline 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±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Plainfield 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Brookline School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.