Compare towns
Plainfield vs Mont Vernon vs Dover 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).
Mont Vernon has the most people working from home (26.6%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% 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 | Mont Vernon | Dover | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
2,636 |
33,364Highest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
| Grantham and Mont Vernon 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% |
22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Grantham 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% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$106,403±$54k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$526,300±$39kHighest 31% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
| Mont Vernon 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 |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
— |
| Plainfield and Dover 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 |
$9,432Highest 41% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$7,605Lowest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
— |
| Mont Vernon and Dover 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
23 min 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon and Dover 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Mont Vernon School District | Dover School District | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.