Compare towns
Plainfield vs Jackson vs Alstead
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 the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Jackson | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Highest |
897Lowest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
| Jackson and Alstead 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% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Jackson and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Alstead 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 |
$117,986±$46k 19% above NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Plainfield and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
— |
| Jackson and Plainfield 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 |
$6,001 10% below NH |
$5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Plainfield 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% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson 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 | — | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Jackson School District | Fall Mountain Regional 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 |
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.