Compare towns
Grantham vs Kingston vs Jackson 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 the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Kingston has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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 | Kingston | Jackson | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,465 |
6,275Highest |
897Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5 16% above NH |
55.5±5.7 28% above NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Jackson and Kingston 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% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest 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% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Jackson and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54k 7% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
$117,986±$46k 19% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Plainfield and Jackson 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 |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Jackson and Plainfield 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 |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
$6,001Lowest 10% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 46.9%±46.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Kingston 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% |
2.1% NH: 7.2% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 16% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Grantham School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Jackson School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.