Compare towns
Bennington vs Plainfield vs Lyndeborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Bennington | Plainfield | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
2,522Highest |
1,616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyndeborough and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 38% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | Plainfield School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.