Compare towns

Plainfield vs Durham vs Hartland vs Sanbornton

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 kids (23.4% under 18).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Hartland has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasurePlainfieldDurhamHartlandSanbornton
People
Population
2,522Lowest
10,681Highest
3,460
3,053
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±6.5
about the U.S. average
20.1±0.2Lowest
48% below U.S.
55.8±5.1Highest
43% above U.S.
41.9±5.4
8% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
6.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.5%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
18.1%±5.5
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
7.5%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.5%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Hartland 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
75.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
70.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$112,070±$25k
39% above U.S.
$86,136±$23kLowest
7% above U.S.
$113,750±$41k
41% above U.S.
Plainfield and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$442,400±$47k
33% above U.S.
$498,000±$45kHighest
50% above U.S.
$348,600±$39kLowest
5% above U.S.
$452,300±$30k
36% above U.S.
Durham and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,302±$211
8% below U.S.
—
$1,289±$198Lowest
9% below U.S.
Plainfield and Durham 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.
$6,437
106% above U.S.
$5,731Lowest
84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
55.4%±19.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.1%±89.7
U.S.: 51.1%
29.3%±23.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
53.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
17% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.8%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Sanbornton 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 #9 of 120 in NH #29 of 70 in VT #42 of 120 in NH
School district Plainfield School District — Hartland 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 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.