Compare towns
Plainfield vs Monroe 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 people working from home (18.1%).
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($313k median).
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 | Monroe | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
786Lowest |
3,465Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.6% NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
51±10.4Highest 18% above NH |
50.4±7.5 16% above NH |
| Monroe 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 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±7.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Monroe 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% |
30.3%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Monroe 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% |
25.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$88,150±$7kLowest 11% below NH |
$106,403±$54k 7% above NH |
| 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±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$312,700±$58kLowest 22% below NH |
$343,100±$39k 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,104±$218Lowest 26% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$2,661Lowest 60% below NH |
$7,605 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48%±39Highest NH: 48.2% |
— |
| Monroe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 min 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Grantham 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 | Monroe 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.