Compare towns
Plainfield vs Townshend vs Westminster vs Grantham
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 expensive homes ($442k median).
Townshend has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Townshend | Westminster | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
1,538Lowest |
2,999 |
3,465Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Westminster 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6 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% |
19.3%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$106,403±$54k 32% 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. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$343,100±$39k 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$7,605 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Townshend and Westminster 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1Lowest |
10.6Highest |
— |
| 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.