Compare towns

Grantham vs Plainfield vs Waterbury

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%).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).

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.

MeasureGranthamPlainfieldWaterbury
People
Population
3,465
2,522Lowest
5,405Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+14%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.4±7.5Highest
30% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.2±3.7
11% above U.S.
Grantham and Waterbury 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%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.9%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Waterbury 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%
19.8%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$106,403±$54k
32% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$103,917±$23kLowest
29% above U.S.
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±$39kLowest
3% above U.S.
$442,400±$47k
33% above U.S.
$447,200±$40kHighest
34% above U.S.
Waterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,027±$535Lowest
27% below U.S.
Plainfield and Waterbury 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.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$6,435Lowest
106% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.8%±21.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Waterbury 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%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
100%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
15% below U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
Work from home
13.8%±6.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
28.3%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Waterbury 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 #19 of 120 in NH #20 of 70 in VT
School district Grantham School District Plainfield School District Harwood Unified Union School District #60
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.