Compare towns
Plainfield vs Randolph vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Sharon has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Randolph | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
4,843Highest |
1,577Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Sharon 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% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Randolph 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,172±$173Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
| Plainfield and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Randolph 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.