Compare towns
Sanbornton vs Bennington vs Berwick vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sanbornton has the most expensive homes ($452k median).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Bennington | Berwick | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,053 |
1,588Lowest |
8,175Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.4 8% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Highest 8% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Bennington 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 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sanbornton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$41k 41% above U.S. |
$83,875±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,300±$30kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
| Sanbornton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,289±$198Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,731 84% above U.S. |
$5,944 91% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±23.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick 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 | #42 of 120 in NH | — | #101 of 133 in ME | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Contoocook Valley School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.