Compare towns
Plainfield vs Eliot vs Madbury 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 people working from home (18.1%).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% 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 | Eliot | Madbury | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
7,146Highest |
2,203Lowest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% 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. |
37.7±2.1Lowest 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%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury 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% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9 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% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
| Madbury 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. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
$343,100±$39kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Madbury 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. |
$1,574±$759Lowest 11% above 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 | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% 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%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Eliot and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984 4 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 15% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6 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 | — | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | None 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.