Compare towns
Plainfield vs Kingston 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).
Kingston has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
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 | Kingston | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
6,275Highest |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
55.5±5.7 28% above NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
| Alstead and Kingston 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% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Alstead and Kingston 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% |
35.1% NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Kingston 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 |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Plainfield and Kingston 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 |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Kingston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
— |
| Plainfield and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 19% above NH |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
$5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Kingston 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.