Compare towns
Jackson vs Windham vs Plainfield vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Lyme has the most kids (18.6% 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 | Jackson | Windham | Plainfield | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,695 |
594Lowest |
1,314 |
2,066Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
56.8±6.1 46% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lyme and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$8k 4% below U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$81,400±$5k about the U.S. average |
| Windham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,400±$40k 29% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$234,700±$20kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$43 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$838±$190Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,165 34% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$3,442Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±52Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.