Compare towns
Plainfield vs Derry vs Keene
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 most homeowners (87.3%).
Derry has the oldest population (median age 40.3).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Derry | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
34,116Highest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
40.3±1.6Highest 7% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Derry 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 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Keene 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% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Plainfield and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Plainfield and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% 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 |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Keene 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Derry 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 | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9Highest |
12.3Lowest |
| 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.