Compare towns
Grantham vs Thornton vs Dummerston 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%).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
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 | Thornton | Dummerston | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,465Highest |
2,799 |
2,090Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Thornton 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% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Dummerston 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%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Plainfield 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% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% 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. |
$351,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Dummerston 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. |
$5,032 61% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Dummerston 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% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Dummerston 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Grantham School District | Thornton School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Plainfield 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.