Compare towns
Grantham vs Lebanon vs Madbury 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%).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
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 | Lebanon | Madbury | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,465 |
14,999Highest |
2,203Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±6.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon 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 NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon 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 7% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Madbury 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 |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Madbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Lebanon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,605Lowest 14% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 41.9%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Lebanon 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% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 16% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Grantham School District | Lebanon School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— | — |
| 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.