Compare towns
Plainfield vs North Hampton vs Hampton Beach 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 youngest population (median age 38.9).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Hampton Beach has the most renters (37.1% rent).
Grantham has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
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 | North Hampton | Hampton Beach | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
4,543Highest |
2,605 |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+14% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
50.4±7.5 16% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and North Hampton 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% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach and North Hampton 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% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$106,403±$54k 7% above NH |
| North Hampton 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 |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
— |
| North Hampton and Plainfield 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 |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$7,605 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
— |
| Hampton Beach and Plainfield 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% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
23 min 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | — | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | North Hampton 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 | 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.