Compare towns
Grantham vs Plainfield vs Rochester vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Rochester has the most renters (34% rent).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Plainfield | Rochester | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,465 |
2,522 |
33,144Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5 16% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
| Springfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±6.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54k 7% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,100±$39k 15% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,605 14% above NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Rochester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 16% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Springfield 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Grantham School District | Plainfield School District | Rochester School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.