Compare towns

Plainfield vs Canterbury vs Sanbornton

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Canterbury has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldCanterburySanbornton
People
Population
2,522
2,353Lowest
3,053Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+1.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+2%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.9±6.5Lowest
10% below NH
48.6±3.8Highest
12% above NH
41.9±5.4
3% below NH
Canterbury and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.4%±5.8Highest
NH: 18.2%
17.4%±4.4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
18.1%±5.5
NH: 18.2%
Plainfield and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±4.5Lowest
NH: 20.1%
22.9%±3.3Highest
NH: 20.1%
21.5%±4.4
NH: 20.1%
Canterbury 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%
NH: 40.6%
49.3%Highest
NH: 40.6%
39.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.3
NH: 6%
6.8%±3Highest
NH: 6%
1.9%±1.4Lowest
NH: 6%
Canterbury 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
24% above NH
$129,333±$37kHighest
31% above NH
$113,750±$41kLowest
15% above NH
Canterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$442,400±$47kLowest
10% above NH
$443,700±$21k
10% above NH
$452,300±$30kHighest
12% above NH
Sanbornton and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,674±$181
12% above NH
$2,136±$233Highest
43% above NH
$1,289±$198Lowest
14% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,904Highest
19% above NH
$7,421
11% above NH
$5,731Lowest
14% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±23.1
NH: 48.2%
71.7%±48.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
29.3%±23.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Canterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%
NH: 7.2%
5.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4.8%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%
NH: 72.8%
93.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
85.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
2 yrs older than NH
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
18% below NH
33 minHighest
22% above NH
31 min
16% above NH
Work from home
18.1%±8.5
NH: 16.8%
21.6%±7.4Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.8%±6.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Canterbury 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 — #42 of 120 in NH
School district Plainfield School District Shaker Regional School District Winnisquam Regional School District
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

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.