Compare towns
Grantham vs Sidney vs Springfield 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%).
Sidney has the most affordable homes ($336k median).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Sidney | Springfield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,465 |
4,790Highest |
1,122Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Sidney 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% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% 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±$39k 3% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Sidney 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. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Springfield 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Grantham School District | RSU 18 | — | Plainfield School District |
| 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 | 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.