What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

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	Salem
People
Population	1,314Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S.	44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Plainfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainfield and Salem 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%	38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salem and Plainfield 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.	$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S.	$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S.	$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S.	$6,992Highest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainfield and Salem 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%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Salem 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	—	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Salem School District
High school in town	—	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.2
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.