Compare towns
Plainfield vs Salem 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).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Salem | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
30,964Highest |
1,047Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Lowest 15% 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%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest 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%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%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% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem 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. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$323,200±$45k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$868±$209Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 54% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$4,326Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest 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% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9Lowest 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.