Compare towns
Plainfield vs Hanover vs Grantham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
11,685Highest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
| Grantham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Hanover 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 NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$106,403±$54kLowest 7% above NH |
| Hanover 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 10% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,605Lowest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
— |
| Hanover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
23 minHighest 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Plainfield 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.