Compare towns
Grantham vs Mendon vs Plainfield vs Croydon
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%).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Croydon has the most affordable homes ($317k median).
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 | Mendon | Plainfield | Croydon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,465Highest |
1,113 |
2,522 |
798Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43±9.1 11% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±6.3 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% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Croydon 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% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$98,333±$21kLowest 22% 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±$39k 3% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$317,300±$33kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$991±$336Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Mendon 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. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±75.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Grantham School District | — | Plainfield School District | Croydon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 4 photos → | 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.