Compare towns

Athens 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

Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Grantham has the most homeowners (100%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k 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.

MeasureAthensGranthamPlainfield
People
Population
431Lowest
3,465Highest
2,522
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+14%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.3±6.5
22% above U.S.
50.4±7.5Highest
30% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Grantham and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.9%±6.5Lowest
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+
21.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Athens and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Athens and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,438±$30kLowest
15% 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
$240,400±$32kLowest
28% below U.S.
$343,100±$39k
3% above U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$537Lowest
20% below U.S.
—
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
Plainfield and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,438Lowest
74% above U.S.
$7,605
144% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±39Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
—
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Athens and Plainfield 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%
0%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
100%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
23 min
15% below U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±6.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Athens 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 — #6 of 120 in NH #19 of 120 in NH
School district — Grantham School District Plainfield School District
High school 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.