Compare towns

Waterville vs Plainfield vs Sutton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waterville has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k 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.

MeasureWatervillePlainfieldSutton
People
Population
680Lowest
2,522Highest
790
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-11.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.1±8.2Highest
26% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.6±5.7
20% above U.S.
Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.4%±8.2
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sutton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Waterville and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,250±$27kLowest
12% below U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$71,250±$18kLowest
12% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$236,300±$15k
29% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$231,100±$41kLowest
31% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,110±$93Lowest
21% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,957Lowest
27% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$3,975
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±27.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.8%±31.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
42% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
8.5%±3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Sutton 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 Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A Plainfield School District Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.