Compare towns

Plainfield vs Derry vs Montgomery

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%).
Montgomery 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.

MeasurePlainfieldDerryMontgomery
People
Population
1,314
34,116Highest
1,047Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.1±5.5
24% above U.S.
40.3±1.6Lowest
4% above U.S.
51.5±11.3Highest
32% above U.S.
Montgomery and Plainfield 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%
15.5%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Derry and Plainfield 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%
33.9%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Derry and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$69,250±$31k
14% below U.S.
$108,944±$7kHighest
35% above U.S.
$53,289±$24kLowest
34% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$318,400±$34kLowest
4% below U.S.
$432,000±$17kHighest
30% above U.S.
$323,200±$45k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,153±$103
18% below U.S.
$1,547±$138Highest
9% above U.S.
$868±$209Lowest
39% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,806
54% above U.S.
$8,103Highest
160% above U.S.
$4,326Lowest
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
76.6%±68Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
15.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
Work from home
16.4%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Derry 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 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
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

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.