Compare towns
Grantham vs Pepperell 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%).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k 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 | Pepperell | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,465 |
11,663Highest |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Grantham and Pepperell 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% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Pepperell 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% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Pepperell 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% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell 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. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
| Pepperell 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. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Pepperell 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. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #6 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Grantham School District | North Middlesex | 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.