What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

Penobscot has the oldest population (median age 53.4).

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	Penobscot
People
Population	2,522Highest	1,154Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average	53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%	18%±6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S.	$63,194±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S.	$296,400±$58kLowest 11% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S.	$1,141±$33Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,904Highest 153% above U.S.	$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Penobscot 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 U.S.: 12.5%	16%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Penobscot 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	Penobscot Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.