Compare towns

Plainfield vs Ripton vs Strafford

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 youngest population (median age 38.9).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldRiptonStrafford
People
Population
2,522Highest
508Lowest
1,372
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
51.4±4.7Highest
32% above U.S.
Strafford and Ripton 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%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Strafford 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%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
$110,833±$19kLowest
37% above U.S.
Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$394,400±$61kLowest
19% above U.S.
$431,300±$40k
30% above U.S.
Plainfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
—
$1,125±$789Lowest
20% below U.S.
Plainfield and Strafford 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.
$4,915Lowest
58% above U.S.
$7,149
129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±48
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Strafford 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%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
24 minHighest
9% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Ripton 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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Strafford School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.