Compare towns
Plainfield vs Wolfeboro vs Norwich
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 affordable homes ($442k median).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
6,571Highest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Plainfield 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Norwich 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±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Norwich 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 | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.