Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sunapee vs White River Junction
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 most kids (23.4% under 18).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Sunapee | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
3,416Highest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and White River Junction 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Sunapee 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. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Sunapee 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. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Sunapee 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. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Sunapee 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. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| White River Junction and Sunapee 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and White River Junction 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Sunapee School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.