Compare towns
Springfield vs Plainfield vs Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Springfield | Plainfield | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122Lowest |
2,522 |
3,811Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
| Springfield and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,140±$90 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946Lowest 11% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$5,985 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Springfield 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 | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.