Compare towns
Enfield vs Plainfield vs Lyme vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Enfield has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Wolfeboro has the most renters (21.9% rent).
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 | Enfield | Plainfield | Lyme | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,475 |
2,522 |
1,710Lowest |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
57±1.8 32% above NH |
| Enfield and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.7%±7.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,474±$19k 4% below NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Lyme and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,800±$71kLowest about the NH average |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Lyme and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,181±$563 21% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Plainfield and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,203 7% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.8%±16.7 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 11% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Wolfeboro 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 | #5 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Plainfield School District | Lyme School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.