Compare towns
Plainfield vs Lee vs Durham 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).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Lee | Durham | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
4,576 |
15,080Highest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
| Grantham and Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$106,403±$54kLowest 7% above NH |
| Lee and Durham 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 |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
— | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
— |
| Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 19% above NH |
$9,661 45% 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% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
— |
| Durham and Lee 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% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
23 min 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Durham 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 51 photos → | 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.