Compare towns
Sanbornton vs Franklin vs Northwood 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 expensive homes ($452k median).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Northwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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.
| Measure | Sanbornton | Franklin | Northwood | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,053 |
8,799Highest |
4,688 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.4 3% below NH |
42.7±2Highest about the NH average |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Franklin and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton 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% |
21.3%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.7% NH: 40.6% |
19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.9% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Northwood 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 15% above NH |
$71,648±$4kLowest 28% below NH |
$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Northwood and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,300±$30kHighest 12% above NH |
$262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH |
$363,000±$13k 10% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| 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±$198 14% below NH |
$1,110±$68Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,201±$372 19% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,731 14% below NH |
$4,886Lowest 27% below NH |
$5,806 13% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±23.5 NH: 48.2% |
38.8%±11.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Franklin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1970 9 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Northwood 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 | #112 of 120 in NH | #24 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Franklin School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Franklin High School | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 16.2Highest |
11.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.