Compare towns
Plainfield vs White River Junction vs Keene
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 expensive homes ($442k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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.
| Measure | Plainfield | White River Junction | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
3,364 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Highest about the U.S. average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Keene 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% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Keene 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% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Keene and White River Junction 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Keene School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| 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.