Compare towns
Starks vs Mapleton vs Plainfield vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Starks has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Ludlow has the most affordable homes ($134k 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 | Starks | Mapleton | Plainfield | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 556 |
1,884 |
2,522Highest |
444Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.1±5.8 19% above U.S. |
| Starks and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Starks and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$8k 21% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$62,500±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $148,500±$27k 55% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$133,900±$56kLowest 60% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301 25% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$988±$111 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$1,655 47% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±94.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.8%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Mapleton 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 | — |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.