Compare towns
Grantham vs North Hampton vs Middlesex vs Plainfield
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%).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | North Hampton | Middlesex | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,465 |
4,543Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| North Hampton and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest 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% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hampton and Middlesex 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% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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±$54kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
| North Hampton 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 3% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Plainfield 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. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 23.5%±21 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and North Hampton 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% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Grantham School District | North Hampton School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 5 photos → | 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.