Compare towns
Dummerston vs Lyndeborough vs Plainfield vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Dummerston | Lyndeborough | Plainfield | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,616Lowest |
2,522Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17k 45% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$390,900±$26k 17% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,482±$457 5% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,133 129% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.