Compare towns
Grantham vs Hancock vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
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 | Hancock | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,465Highest |
1,791Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5 16% above NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Hancock 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 NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
53.9% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6Highest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54k 7% above NH |
$95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| 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 15% below NH |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
| Plainfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,605 14% above NH |
$6,884Lowest 3% above NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 32.4%±55.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hancock and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 16% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Hancock 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 120 in NH |
| School district | Grantham School District | Contoocook Valley School District | 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 |
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.