What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

Searsmont has the most affordable homes ($284k median).

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	Searsmont
People
Population	2,522Highest	1,646Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average	44.5±9.8Highest 14% above U.S.
	Searsmont and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%	13.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Searsmont 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%	31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Searsmont 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.	$87,000±$20kLowest 8% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S.	$284,000±$31kLowest 15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S.	$940±$311Lowest 33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,904Highest 153% above U.S.	$2,788Lowest 11% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41.4%±41.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Searsmont and Plainfield 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%	6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.	25 minHighest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±10.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Searsmont 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	RSU 71
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.