Compare towns
Plainfield vs Durham vs Mont Vernon vs Hartland
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 the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Mont Vernon has the most people working from home (26.6%).
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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Durham | Mont Vernon | Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
10,681Highest |
2,636 |
3,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
42.9±2.8 10% above U.S. |
55.8±5.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Mont Vernon 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% |
15.6%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartland 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Lowest 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% |
6.1%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$158,036±$19kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$86,136±$23kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$526,300±$39kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$348,600±$39kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Mont Vernon and Durham 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. |
$1,104±$185Lowest 22% 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. |
$9,432 202% above U.S. |
$6,437Lowest 106% 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% |
51.4%±80.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.1%±89.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Mont Vernon 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mont Vernon 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH | #29 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Mont Vernon School District | Hartland 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.