Compare towns
Plainfield vs Fairlee 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 expensive homes ($442k median).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Fairlee | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
1,066Lowest |
3,465Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
| Fairlee 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee 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. |
$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$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±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$343,100±$39k 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,617Lowest 80% above U.S. |
$7,605 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Fairlee and Plainfield 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% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Fairlee 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 | — | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.