Compare towns
Grantham vs Eliot vs Plainfield vs Springfield
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%).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Eliot | Plainfield | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,465 |
7,146Highest |
2,522 |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Eliot 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% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest 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% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% 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±$39kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,605 144% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Eliot 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 133 in ME | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Grantham School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Plainfield 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 | 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.