Compare towns

Plainfield vs White River Junction vs Walpole

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 highest household income ($123k).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Walpole has the oldest population (median age 46.5).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldWhite River JunctionWalpole
People
Population
2,522Lowest
3,364
3,690Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±6.5
about the U.S. average
33.7±3.2Lowest
13% below U.S.
46.5±10.4Highest
20% above U.S.
Walpole and Plainfield 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%±5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Walpole 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%
25.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Walpole 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%
32.9%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%
4%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Walpole 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.
$82,617±$16k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$278,800±$78kLowest
16% below U.S.
$319,800±$48k
4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,222±$216
14% below U.S.
$1,165±$150Lowest
18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$5,651Lowest
81% above U.S.
$6,078
95% 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%
51.6%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Walpole 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%
11.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
17% below U.S.
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
23 minHighest
13% below U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
7.2%±4.9Lowest
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 — #27 of 120 in NH
School district Plainfield School District — Fall Mountain Regional 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.