Compare towns
Grantham vs Northbridge 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%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Northbridge | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,465 |
16,458Highest |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Grantham and Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Grantham 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% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Northbridge 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. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,605 144% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Grantham School District | Northbridge | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.