Compare towns
Lancaster vs Plainfield vs Northumberland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Northumberland has the most affordable homes ($120k median).
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 | Northumberland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Highest |
1,314Lowest |
1,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.7±6.2 17% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$40,268±$7kLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$120,100±$15kLowest 64% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,018±$96Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226 35% above U.S. |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$2,794Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.7%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northumberland and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Highest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | — | Northumberland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Groveton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.