Compare towns
Plainfield vs Wolfeboro vs Keene
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Wolfeboro | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
6,571 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Plainfield and Wolfeboro 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 |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Wolfeboro 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 |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene 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 NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
24 minHighest 11% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.