Compare towns
Eliot vs Lebanon vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Eliot | Lebanon | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
14,999Highest |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon 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 133 in ME | #29 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lebanon School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.