Compare towns
Plainfield vs Hillsborough vs Somersworth
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
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 | Hillsborough | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
5,980 |
12,111Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
40.9±4.6Highest 6% below NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
| Hillsborough 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% |
17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Somersworth 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% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Hillsborough 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% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
31.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
| Somersworth and Plainfield 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 24% above NH |
$84,495±$12k 15% below NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Hillsborough 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.