Compare towns
Grafton vs Plainfield vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Orange has the most homeowners (97.5%).
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 | Grafton | Plainfield | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,354 |
2,522Highest |
320Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 43.1±10.6Highest about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.3±9.1 5% below NH |
| Grafton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±5.6Lowest 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+ | 21%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Grafton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±3.7 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$118,750±$39k 20% above NH |
| Plainfield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$23kLowest 34% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$302,600±$35k 25% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$163Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,239 21% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$5,132Lowest 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±34.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Grafton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 43 minHighest 62% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
28 min 5% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Orange and Grafton 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.