What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

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	Salisbury
People
Population	2,522Lowest	9,281Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average	51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%	13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salisbury 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 U.S.: 35.7%	43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salisbury and Plainfield 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 52% above U.S.	$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S.	$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,674±$181Lowest 18% above U.S.	$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Plainfield 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.	$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salisbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salisbury 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	#240 of 282 in MA
School district	Plainfield School District	Triton
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.