Compare towns
Grafton vs Plainfield vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Grafton | Plainfield | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Lowest |
2,522Highest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
56.2±8.7 44% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Grafton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,111±$7k 6% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,200±$85k 3% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,288±$174 9% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | Athens Grafton School District | Plainfield School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None 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.