Compare towns
Grantham vs Middlesex vs Plainfield vs Putney
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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Plainfield | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,465Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,522 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Grantham and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Plainfield and Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Grantham School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Plainfield School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.