Compare towns
Plainfield vs Jackson 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 youngest population (median age 38.9).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Grantham has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
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 | Jackson | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
897Lowest |
3,465Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+14% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
50.4±7.5 16% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest 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%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Jackson 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$117,986±$46k 19% above NH |
$106,403±$54kLowest 7% above NH |
| Plainfield and Jackson 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 |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
— |
| Jackson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$6,001Lowest 10% below NH |
$7,605 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
— |
| Plainfield and Jackson 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% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4% NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
23 minHighest 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson 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 | — | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Jackson School District | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.