Compare towns

Plainfield vs Derry vs Hampton Falls

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).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldDerryHampton Falls
People
Population
2,522
34,116Highest
2,328Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%
NH: +4.6%
+3.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7.5%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.9±6.5Lowest
10% below NH
40.3±1.6
7% below NH
49.5±7.3Highest
14% above NH
Kids under 18
23.4%±5.8Highest
NH: 18.2%
20.7%±2.1
NH: 18.2%
19.1%±5.6Lowest
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%
25%±3.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
Hampton Falls 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%
NH: 40.6%
37.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
54.5%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.3
NH: 6%
6.1%±1.5Highest
NH: 6%
3.8%±2.1Lowest
NH: 6%
Derry 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
$108,944±$7kLowest
10% above NH
$166,157±$14kHighest
68% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$442,400±$47k
10% above NH
$432,000±$17kLowest
7% above NH
$772,600±$76kHighest
92% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,674±$181
12% above NH
$1,547±$138Lowest
4% above NH
$1,852±$475Highest
24% above NH
Hampton Falls and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,904Lowest
19% above NH
$8,103
22% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±23.1
NH: 48.2%
51.6%±9Highest
NH: 48.2%
27.2%±22.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Derry 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
NH: 7.2%
4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
70.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
86.3%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
2 yrs older than NH
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
18% below NH
31 min
16% above NH
32 minHighest
21% above NH
Work from home
18.1%±8.5
NH: 16.8%
16%±2.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
21.8%±4.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
Hampton Falls 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 —
School district Plainfield School District Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District Hampton Falls 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.