Compare towns
Plainfield vs Derby vs Cornish 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 people working from home (18.1%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Derby | Cornish | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
4,537Highest |
1,816Lowest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Derby 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% |
15.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest 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% |
27.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$80,250±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$106,403±$54k 32% 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 | $442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$343,100±$39k 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,096±$118Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$7,605 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Derby and Cornish 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% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Grantham 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 | #52 of 70 in VT | — | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Cornish School District | Grantham 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.