Compare towns

Brattleboro 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

Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
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.

MeasureBrattleboroGranthamPlainfield
People
Population
12,122Highest
3,465
2,522Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+14%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±4.5
17% above U.S.
50.4±7.5Highest
30% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Grantham and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±2.8Lowest
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+
25.5%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Brattleboro and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% 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
$257,300±$18kLowest
23% below U.S.
$343,100±$39k
3% above U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,074±$58Lowest
24% below U.S.
—
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,700Lowest
83% above U.S.
$7,605
144% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
—
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brattleboro and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
0%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
100%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 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
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
23 minHighest
15% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
Work from home
17.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±6.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Brattleboro 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 #33 of 70 in VT #6 of 120 in NH #19 of 120 in NH
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Grantham School District Plainfield School District
High school in town Brattleboro Union High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.0
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.