Compare towns
Plainfield vs Londonderry vs Salem
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Londonderry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% 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 | Londonderry | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
26,685 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
42.7±0.9 about the NH average |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Londonderry 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% |
20.6%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Londonderry 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%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Salem 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% |
47.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±1Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$132,556±$14kHighest 34% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Londonderry and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$505,200±$20kHighest 26% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Londonderry and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,803±$154Highest 21% above NH |
$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
| Londonderry and Plainfield 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 |
$8,069Highest 21% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±7.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Londonderry and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Londonderry 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 | #37 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Londonderry School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Londonderry Senior High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.