Compare towns
Grantham vs Plainfield vs Williston vs Canterbury
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 the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Canterbury has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Williston | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,465 |
2,522 |
10,144Highest |
2,353Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
48.6±3.8 25% above U.S. |
| Grantham and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Williston 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%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury and Williston 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% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canterbury and Williston 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. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$129,333±$37kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Canterbury 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. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$443,700±$21k 33% above U.S. |
| Williston and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,674±$181Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$2,136±$233Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Williston 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$7,421 138% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
71.7%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canterbury and Williston 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Canterbury 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Grantham School District | Plainfield School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Shaker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.