Compare towns
Plainfield vs Dover vs Kennebunk 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).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
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 | Kennebunk | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
33,364Highest |
11,820 |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Grantham 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% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Kennebunk 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. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$343,100±$39kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$7,605 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Dover and Kennebunk 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Dover School District | RSU 21 | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
11.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.