Compare towns
Grantham vs Hanover vs Springfield 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%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Springfield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,465 |
11,685Highest |
1,122Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5 16% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54k 7% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$100,893±$19kLowest about the NH average |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Hanover and Plainfield 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,605 14% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,946Lowest 11% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 16% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #6 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Grantham School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.