Compare towns
Grantham vs Wolfeboro vs Barre 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%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Wolfeboro | Barre | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,465 |
6,571 |
8,412Highest |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6 8% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below 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. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,093±$58Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,605 144% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,192 66% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barre 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #19 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Grantham School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 4 photos → | 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.