Compare towns
Amherst vs Lyndeborough vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Lyndeborough has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Amherst | Lyndeborough | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
1,616Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Lyndeborough and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$116,964±$17kLowest 18% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$7,133Lowest 7% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyndeborough and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 22% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.