Compare towns
Lancaster vs Plainfield vs Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Lancaster | Plainfield | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Highest |
2,522 |
2,005Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
40.2±5 7% below NH |
| Lancaster and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.2%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.1% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.1%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$88,871±$14k 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$266,600±$39k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,024±$331 31% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$5,229 22% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.1%±27.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Troy and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Plainfield School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.