Compare towns
Plainfield vs Dorset vs Hanover 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
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Dorset | Hanover | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
2,092Lowest |
8,479Highest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
50.4±7.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Grantham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Plainfield 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%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset 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% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$106,403±$54kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Hanover 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. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$343,100±$39kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,605 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Dorset and Hanover 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Grantham School District |
| High school 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.