Compare towns
Sanbornton vs Amherst vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sanbornton has the most renters (14.1% rent).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Sanbornton | Amherst | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,053 |
11,861Highest |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.4 3% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Amherst and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sanbornton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$41kLowest 15% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,289±$198Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plainfield and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.8%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #42 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.