What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Strafford	Plainfield
People
Population	1,372Lowest	2,522Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.	38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	23%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Strafford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S.	$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S.
	Plainfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S.	$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S.
	Plainfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S.
	Plainfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,149Lowest 129% above U.S.	$7,904Highest 153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Strafford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2% U.S.: 12.5%	5.2% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Strafford 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	Strafford School District	Plainfield School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.