Compare towns
Plainfield vs Plaistow vs New Ipswich
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
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 | Plaistow | New Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
7,861Highest |
5,310 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
40.1±3.7Highest 7% below NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
| Plaistow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Plainfield 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% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Plaistow 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% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Plaistow 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 |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$110,507±$9k 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and New Ipswich 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 |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$392,400±$31kLowest about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Plaistow 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 |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
| Plainfield and Plaistow 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 |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich and Plaistow 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% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Plaistow 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #82 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Mascenic Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Mascenic Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.