Compare towns
Plainfield vs Derry vs Atkinson
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Derry | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
34,116Highest |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson 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 NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Atkinson 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 |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
| Atkinson 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±$47k 10% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
| Plainfield and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 19% above NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Derry 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9 |
— |
| 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.