Plainfield

Sullivan County•Upper Valley•Population: 2,459

Overview

Plainfield is a Connecticut River Valley town in Sullivan County, home to the historic Meriden village and Kimball Union Academy, a private secondary school. The town's rolling farmland and river valley setting give it a classic upper valley character.

Meriden's well-preserved village green and academic campus give Plainfield a distinct cultural identity, while the surrounding countryside includes working farms and conservation land. The town sits within reach of both Hanover and the Vermont border.

Housing in Plainfield ranges from historic village homes to rural farmland properties, drawing families connected to Kimball Union Academy and Upper Valley commuters seeking a rural setting.

Pros & Cons

✓ Pros

•Historic academy
•River valley setting
•Rural character
•Upper Valley access

✗ Cons

•Limited services
•Remote location
•Few amenities

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Plainfield.

2025 Local Tax Rate

$17.60

per $1,000 assessed value

2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate

$16.63

Equalization ratio: 95%

Municipal

$3.50

Local School

$11.06

State Education

$1.09

County

$1.95

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

Year	Total Rate	Effective Rate	Municipal	Local School	State Ed.	County
2025	$17.60	$16.63	$3.50	$11.06	$1.09	$1.95

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home Value	Estimated Annual Tax	Estimated Monthly
$250,000	$4,400	$367
$350,000	$6,160	$513
$500,000	$8,800	$733
$750,000	$13,200	$1,100
$1,000,000	$17,600	$1,467

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $17.60 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Open Full Calculator →Compare With Other Towns →View Statewide Rankings →

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High

79.2°F

Winter Avg High

34.7°F

Annual Snowfall

59.2 in

Annual Rainfall

45.1 in

Sunny Days/Year

258

Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5 • Updated 7/4/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston

132 mi

~152 min drive

Manchester

83 mi

~94 min drive

Portsmouth

124 mi

~143 min drive

Concord

69 mi

~84 min drive

Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMap • Updated 7/3/2026

Safety & Crime

Safety Score

10/10

Crime Rate

4.47/1,000

Crime Trend

stable

Data source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program - Crime Data Explorer (https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/) • Updated 8/12/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score

39/100

Trail Miles

36.2

State Parks

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:17 miles

XC Ski Trails:0 miles

Campgrounds:1

Economy & Demographics

💰Income

Median Household Income

$115,257

Per Capita Income

$56,460

Median Family Income

$118,500

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value

$387,700

Median Rent

$1,553/mo

Homeownership Rate

91.46%

💼Employment

Unemployment Rate

1.59%

In Labor Force

1,192

🎓Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

24.53%

Total with Degree

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Compare Plainfield with Other Towns

See how Plainfield stacks up against other NH communities.

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