Compare towns
Plainfield vs Derry vs Brookfield vs Groton
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Derry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Derry | Brookfield | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
34,116Highest |
1,486 |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
45.7±5.8 17% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$77,250±$14k 4% below U.S. |
| Derry and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
$243,000±$70kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
$975±$306 31% below U.S. |
$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 54% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
$3,659Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield 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 | — | #60 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | — | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.