Compare towns
Grantham vs Meredith vs Croydon 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%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Croydon has the most affordable homes ($317k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Meredith | Croydon | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,465 |
6,758Highest |
798Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5 16% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
43±9.1 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19%±6.3 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% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith 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 NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
21.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±3.3 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54k 7% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$98,333±$21k about the NH average |
$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±$39k 15% below NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$317,300±$33kLowest 21% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Meredith and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$991±$336Lowest 34% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,605 14% above NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$3,806Lowest 43% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
7.1%±75.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith 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% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 16% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Grantham School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Croydon School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.