Compare towns
Plainfield vs Williston vs Grantham vs Madbury
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Grantham has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Williston | Grantham | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
10,144Highest |
3,465 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Grantham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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 52% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$106,403±$54kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Madbury 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 33% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$343,100±$39kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Williston 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. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
— | $1,574±$759Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$7,605 144% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #6 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Grantham School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.