Compare towns
Derby Center 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
Derby Center has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
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.
| Measure | Derby Center | Grantham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 693Lowest |
3,465Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 61.1±7Highest 57% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Derby Center and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±6.3Lowest 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+ | 38.2%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,250±$10kLowest 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 | $196,600±$24kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$343,100±$39k 3% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$257Lowest 24% below U.S. |
— | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,505Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$7,605 144% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.2%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby Center and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 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 | 16 minLowest 39% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.2%±3Lowest 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 | — | #6 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Grantham School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school 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.