Compare towns
Croydon vs Lyndeborough vs Plainfield vs Grantham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Croydon has the most affordable homes ($317k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Croydon | Lyndeborough | Plainfield | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 798Lowest |
1,616 |
2,522 |
3,465Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±9.1 about the NH average |
50±3.2 15% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
| Grantham and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Croydon and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±3.3 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,333±$21kLowest about the NH average |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$106,403±$54k 7% 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 | $317,300±$33kLowest 21% below NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$343,100±$39k 15% below NH |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $991±$336Lowest 34% below NH |
$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 | $3,806Lowest 43% below NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$7,605 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±75.3Lowest 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 | 6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
23 min 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 5.3%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2 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 | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Croydon School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District | Grantham 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 |
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.