Compare towns
Plainfield vs Dedham vs Grantham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
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 | Plainfield | Dedham | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
25,237Highest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Grantham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6 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+ | 19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$106,403±$54kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$343,100±$39kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,605Lowest 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Dedham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Dedham | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.