Compare towns
Plainfield vs Stratham vs Lebanon 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% 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 | Stratham | Lebanon | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
7,754 |
14,999Highest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
| Grantham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Plainfield 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% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Stratham 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
59.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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 |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$106,403±$54k 7% above NH |
| Stratham 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 |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 19% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$7,605Lowest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
— |
| Stratham and Lebanon 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% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
23 min 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Lebanon 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Lebanon School District | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
— |
| 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.