Compare towns
Plainfield vs Northwood 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).
Northwood has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Northwood | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
4,688Highest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
| Grantham and Northwood 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% |
18%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Northwood 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% |
38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH |
$106,403±$54kLowest 7% above NH |
| Northwood 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±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$363,000±$13k 10% below NH |
$343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
— |
| Plainfield and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,605 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
— |
| Plainfield and Northwood 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% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
23 min 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Northwood 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 | #24 of 120 in NH | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.