What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).

Northwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plainfield	Northwood
People
Population	2,522Lowest	4,688Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH	42.4±7.8Highest about the NH average
	Northwood 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%	18%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Plainfield and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1%	21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Northwood 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 NH: 40.6%	38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6%	3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6%
	Plainfield and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH	$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH
	Northwood 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±$47kHighest 10% above NH	$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH	$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH
	Plainfield and Northwood 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	$5,806Lowest 13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.8%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2%	23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Plainfield and Northwood 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%	7.5%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	89%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH	1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 18% below NH	37 minHighest 37% above NH
Work from home	18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	18.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Northwood 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	#24 of 120 in NH
School district	Plainfield School District	Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District
High school in town	None in town	Coe-Brown Northwood Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.