Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sutton vs Thornton vs Waterville Valley
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 youngest population (median age 38.9).
Sutton has the most homeowners (95.7%).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Waterville Valley has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Sutton | Thornton | Waterville Valley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
2,239 |
2,799Highest |
290Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
61.6±16.5Highest 42% above NH |
| Waterville Valley 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% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
8.6%±11.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
43.1%±9.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
71.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
0.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sutton 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±$13k 24% above NH |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$105,625±$50k 7% above NH |
| Sutton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$362,600±$16k 10% below NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$562,500±$193kHighest 40% above NH |
| Waterville Valley and Plainfield 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 |
$1,656±$614 11% above NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,150±$382Lowest 23% below NH |
| Plainfield and Sutton 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 |
$7,652 15% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,745 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Waterville Valley 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% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
81.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.7%±12.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Waterville Valley 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Thornton School District | Waterville Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.