Compare towns
Grafton vs Springfield vs Plainfield vs Canaan
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 people working from home (19.9%).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Canaan has the most renters (22.7% rent).
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 | Springfield | Plainfield | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,354 |
1,122Lowest |
2,522 |
3,811Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.1±10.6 about the NH average |
51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
| Springfield and Canaan 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% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest 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%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Grafton and Springfield 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% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$23k 34% below NH |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$163 17% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,140±$90 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,239Lowest 21% below NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$5,985 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±34.1 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Grafton 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% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 43 minHighest 62% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Lowest 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 | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Plainfield School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.