What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% 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.

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

Measure	Salisbury	Plainfield
People
Population	9,281Highest	2,522Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S.	38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salisbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salisbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S.	$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S.	$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S.	$1,674±$181Lowest 18% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S.	$7,904Highest 153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salisbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salisbury and Plainfield 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	#240 of 282 in MA	#19 of 120 in NH
School district	Triton	Plainfield School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.