Compare towns

Plainfield vs Hermon vs Gray

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%).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
Gray has the oldest population (median age 43.4).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldHermonGray
People
Population
2,522Lowest
6,727
8,429Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+19.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.1±4.7
6% above U.S.
43.4±4.5Highest
12% above U.S.
Gray and Hermon 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%
21.6%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
19%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Hermon 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%
20.4%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hermon 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Gray 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.
$96,629±$22k
20% above U.S.
$95,236±$8kLowest
18% above U.S.
Plainfield and Hermon 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.
$333,600±$32kLowest
about the U.S. average
$363,700±$20k
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,406±$202
about the U.S. average
$1,371±$89Lowest
about the U.S. average
Plainfield and Hermon 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.
$2,761Lowest
11% below U.S.
$3,683
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
28.2%±19.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray 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%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
2000Highest
20 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.8%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Gray 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 #54 of 133 in ME #10 of 133 in ME
School district Plainfield School District Hermon Public Schools RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences
High school in town None in town Hermon High School Gray-New Gloucester High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.6Highest
12.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.