Compare towns
Plainfield vs Springfield vs Thornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Springfield | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
1,122Lowest |
2,799Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
| Springfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
| Plainfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.