Compare towns
Canaan 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
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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.
| Measure | Canaan | Grantham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Highest |
3,465 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Grantham and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$106,403±$54k 7% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Plainfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$343,100±$39k 15% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
— | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$7,605 14% above NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
— | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
23 min 16% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Canaan 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | #6 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Grantham School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | — |
| 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.