Compare towns
Plainfield vs Dover vs Barrington vs Grantham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Dover | Barrington | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
33,364Highest |
9,489 |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
| Grantham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.8%±6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$106,403±$54k 7% above NH |
| Plainfield and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$399,100±$30k about the NH average |
$343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
— |
| Barrington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 19% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$7,121Lowest 7% above NH |
$7,605 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
— |
| Barrington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
23 min 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Dover School District | Barrington School District | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.