Compare towns
Plainfield vs Eliot vs Keene
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).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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 | Eliot | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
7,146 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Eliot 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% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Plainfield and Eliot 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. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Keene 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Keene School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.