Compare towns
Plainfield vs Lenox vs Grantham
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 youngest population (median age 38.9).
Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).
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 | Lenox | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
5,079Highest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
60.1±4.3Highest 54% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
| Lenox and Grantham 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% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±7.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$106,080±$31kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$466,700±$43kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$343,100±$39kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Lenox 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 18% above U.S. |
$1,091±$238Lowest 23% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,299Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$7,605 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.2%±18.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Lenox 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% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lenox 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 | #90 of 282 in MA | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Lenox | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lenox Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.