Compare towns
Appleton vs Grantham vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Appleton | Grantham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
3,465Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Grantham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$343,100±$39k 3% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$7,605 144% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Grantham 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 | — | #6 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Grantham School District | Plainfield School District |
| 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.