Compare towns
Dalton vs Grafton 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
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Grafton has the most people working from home (19.9%).
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 | Dalton | Grafton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 916Lowest |
1,354 |
2,522Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.5±12.9Highest about the NH average |
43.1±10.6 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Dalton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±11.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Grafton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
24.7% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Dalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,429±$36kLowest 18% below NH |
$81,563±$22k 18% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,400±$68kLowest 52% below NH |
$267,300±$23k 34% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$825Lowest 40% below NH |
$1,243±$163 17% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,561Lowest 47% below NH |
$5,239 21% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±83.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±34.1 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dalton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below NH |
43 minHighest 62% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 5.9%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Grafton 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 | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school 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.