Compare towns
Thornton vs Springfield 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
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Thornton | Springfield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Highest |
1,122Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Springfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest 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%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above 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 | $351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Thornton School District | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.