Compare towns
Plainfield vs Hillsborough vs Somersworth 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Hartland has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
5,980 |
12,111Highest |
3,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
40.9±4.6 5% above U.S. |
38.4±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.8±5.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±3Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 52% above U.S. |
$84,495±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$86,136±$23k 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$272,300±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$318,400±$23k 4% below U.S. |
$348,600±$39k 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,198±$390Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,477±$134 5% above U.S. |
— |
| 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 153% above U.S. |
$5,815Lowest 86% above U.S. |
$6,805 118% above U.S. |
$6,437 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.1%±89.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #29 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Somersworth School District | Hartland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Somersworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| 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.