Compare towns
Grantham vs Sunapee vs Plainfield 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%).
Sunapee has the most renters (24.1% rent).
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 | Sunapee | Plainfield | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,465Highest |
3,416 |
2,522 |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5 16% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
| Sunapee and Springfield 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% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54k 7% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$100,893±$19kLowest 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±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
| Plainfield and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Sunapee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,605 14% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 34.6%±10.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Sunapee 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 16% below NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Grantham School District | Sunapee School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.