Compare towns
Plainfield vs Newbury vs Grantham vs Lebanon
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 most kids (23.4% under 18).
Newbury has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Grantham has the most homeowners (100%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Newbury | Grantham | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
393Lowest |
3,465 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.3±14 24% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Grantham and Newbury 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% |
18.8%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest 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% |
27.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newbury and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$76,250±$23kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% 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±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$275,900±$28kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$343,100±$39k 3% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,259±$401Lowest 11% below U.S. |
— | $1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
$3,943Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,605 144% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newbury and Lebanon 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% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon 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 | — | #6 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Grantham School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.