Compare towns

Grantham vs Norwich 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%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
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.

MeasureGranthamNorwichPlainfield
People
Population
3,465
3,640Highest
2,522Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+14%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.4±7.5Highest
30% above U.S.
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Grantham and Norwich 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%
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
Norwich and Plainfield 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%±3.4Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$106,403±$54kLowest
32% above U.S.
$140,313±$12kHighest
74% above U.S.
$122,656±$13k
52% above U.S.
Norwich 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.
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
$442,400±$47k
33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,460±$322Lowest
3% above U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
Plainfield and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,605Lowest
144% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,904
153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Norwich 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%
2.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
100%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minHighest
15% below U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
Work from home
13.8%±6.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Norwich 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 #1 of 70 in VT #19 of 120 in NH
School district Grantham School District Norwich School District Plainfield School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.