Compare towns

Plainfield vs Thornton vs Peacham

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 youngest population (median age 48.1).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Peacham has the most kids (20.7% under 18).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldThorntonPeacham
People
Population
1,314
2,799Highest
887Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.1±5.5Lowest
24% above U.S.
51.1±3.4Highest
31% above U.S.
50.1±5.7
29% above U.S.
Thornton and Peacham 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%
13.9%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Peacham 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%
19%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.6%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Peacham and Thornton 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.
$90,022±$17kHighest
12% above U.S.
$90,000±$28k
11% above U.S.
Thornton and Peacham 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.
$351,900±$20kHighest
6% above U.S.
$302,000±$64kLowest
9% below U.S.
Thornton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,153±$103
18% below U.S.
$1,270±$428Highest
10% below U.S.
$1,028±$248Lowest
27% below U.S.
Thornton 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.
$5,032
61% above U.S.
$5,605Highest
80% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.7%±24.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.7%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Peacham 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%
9.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
16.4%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.8%±9.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.2%±16.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Thornton and Peacham 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 — #18 of 120 in NH —
School district — Thornton School District Peacham School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
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.