Compare towns
White River Junction vs Plainfield vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | White River Junction | Plainfield | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364 |
2,522Lowest |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.