Compare towns
Springfield vs Plainfield vs Stoddard vs Grafton
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($267k 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 | Springfield | Plainfield | Stoddard | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,122 |
2,522Highest |
1,072Lowest |
1,354 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
43.1±10.6 about the NH average |
| Stoddard and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
21%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
21%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Stoddard and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$94,904±$11k 4% below NH |
$81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$330,300±$20k 18% below NH |
$267,300±$23kLowest 34% below NH |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217 26% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
$1,243±$163 17% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 11% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
$5,239 21% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±34.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Stoddard and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
43 minHighest 62% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Grafton 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Stoddard School District | — |
| High school 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.