Compare towns

Cambridge 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

Cambridge has the most renters (29.7% rent).
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.

MeasureCambridgeGranthamPlainfield
People
Population
3,767Highest
3,465
2,522Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+14%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.4±1.8Lowest
4% below U.S.
50.4±7.5Highest
30% above U.S.
38.9±6.5
about the U.S. average
Grantham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±6.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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+
50.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$72,344±$19kLowest
10% 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
$343,000±$38kLowest
3% above U.S.
$343,100±$39k
3% above U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,183±$66Lowest
16% below U.S.
—
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,910Lowest
57% above U.S.
$7,605
144% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.6%±7.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
—
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
6.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
0%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
100%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
23 min
15% below U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
9.9%±4.1Lowest
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 #25 of 70 in VT #6 of 120 in NH #19 of 120 in NH
School district Cambridge 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

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.