Compare towns

Plainfield vs Eliot vs Keene 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).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldEliotKeeneGrantham
People
Population
2,522Lowest
7,146
22,939Highest
3,465
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+14%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±6.5
about the U.S. average
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
50.4±7.5
30% above U.S.
Eliot 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%
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
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%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$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±$47k
33% above U.S.
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
$343,100±$39k
3% above U.S.
Eliot and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,674±$181
18% above U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,342±$68Lowest
5% below U.S.
—
Eliot and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
$6,812
118% above U.S.
$7,605
144% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1
U.S.: 51.1%
—
Eliot and Keene 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%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
0%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
100%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
17% below U.S.
23 minHighest
15% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
23 minHighest
15% below U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±6.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Eliot 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 #19 of 133 in ME #81 of 120 in NH #6 of 120 in NH
School district Plainfield School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 Keene School District Grantham School District
High school in town None in town None in town Keene High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.3
—
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.