Compare towns
Grantham vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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.
| Measure | Grantham | Reading | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,465Highest |
699Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Reading 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% 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. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,605 144% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 |
| School district | Grantham School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.