Compare towns

Ripton vs Plainfield vs Strafford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).

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.

MeasureRiptonPlainfieldStrafford
People
Population
508Lowest
2,522Highest
1,372
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
51.4±4.7Highest
32% above U.S.
Strafford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
23%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$110,833±$19kLowest
37% above U.S.
Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,400±$61kLowest
19% above U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$431,300±$40k
30% above U.S.
Plainfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,125±$789Lowest
20% below U.S.
Plainfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,915Lowest
58% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$7,149
129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±48
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
9% below U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Ripton 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 — #19 of 120 in NH —
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Plainfield School District Strafford School District
High school in town None 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.