What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).

Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plainfield	Hampton Beach
People
Population	1,314Lowest	2,605Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±5.5Lowest 24% above U.S.	60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%	3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Hampton Beach 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.	$82,557±$17kHighest about the U.S. average
	Hampton Beach and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S.	$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S.	$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average
	Hampton Beach and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S.	$6,115Highest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	61.7%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainfield and Hampton Beach 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%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	25 minHighest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton Beach and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.