Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sanbornton vs Derby vs Chichester
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Sanbornton has the most expensive homes ($452k median).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Chichester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Sanbornton | Derby | Chichester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
3,053 |
4,537Highest |
2,745 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.9±5.4 8% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
43±3.3 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Sanbornton 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% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Chichester 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. |
$113,750±$41k 41% above U.S. |
$80,250±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$109,297±$13k 35% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$452,300±$30kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$409,300±$26k 23% above U.S. |
| Sanbornton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,289±$198 9% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,055±$275Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Chichester 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. |
$5,731 84% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$7,189 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.6%±34.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chichester and Derby 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chichester 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 | #42 of 120 in NH | #52 of 70 in VT | #75 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Winnisquam Regional School District | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Chichester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.