Compare towns
Grantham vs Bennington vs Springfield 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
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Grantham | Bennington | Springfield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,465 |
15,249Highest |
1,122Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Springfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest 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+ | 17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% 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 | $343,100±$39k 3% above U.S. |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,605 144% above U.S. |
$4,513Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Springfield 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Grantham School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.