Compare towns
Plainfield vs Hancock 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).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Hartland has the most affordable homes ($349k 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 | Hancock | Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
1,791Lowest |
3,460Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.8±4.5 38% above U.S. |
55.8±5.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Hartland and Hancock 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% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Hartland 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% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$95,208±$15k 18% above U.S. |
$86,136±$23kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$436,700±$22k 31% above U.S. |
$348,600±$39kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Hancock 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. |
$1,208±$650Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Plainfield and Hancock 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. |
$6,884 121% above U.S. |
$6,437Lowest 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.1%±89.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hancock 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% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Hancock 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 | — | #29 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Contoocook Valley 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 |
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.