Compare towns
Plainfield vs Durham vs Hartford 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Hartford | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
10,681 |
10,736Highest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Grantham and Hartford 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Durham 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. |
$498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$343,100±$39k 3% above U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
— |
| Plainfield and Durham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$7,605 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Durham and Hartford 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Hartford School District | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.6 |
— |
| 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.