Compare towns
Plainfield vs White River Junction vs Salisbury
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%).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
3,364Highest |
1,609Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Salisbury 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury 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% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Salisbury 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. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$111,591±$17k 38% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Salisbury 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. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Salisbury 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. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$5,859 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| White River Junction 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury 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 | — | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Merrimack Valley 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 |
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.