Compare towns
Plainfield vs Lee vs Keene 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%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
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 | Lee | Keene | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
4,576 |
22,939Highest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest 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 |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$106,403±$54k 7% above NH |
| Lee 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 |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$343,100±$39k 15% below NH |
| Lee and Plainfield 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 |
— | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 19% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$7,605 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
— |
| Keene 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older 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 |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Keene School District | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.