Compare towns
Brookline vs Grantham vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Grantham has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Plainfield has the most renters (12.7% rent).
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 | Brookline | Grantham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Highest |
3,465 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$106,403±$54kLowest 7% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
— | $1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
| Brookline and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,605Lowest 14% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
— | 31.8%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plainfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.6% NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
23 min 16% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #6 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Grantham School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.