Compare towns

Lee vs Norwich 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

Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k 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.

MeasureLeeNorwichPlainfield
People
Population
4,576Highest
3,640
2,522Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±1.9Highest
10% above U.S.
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Lee and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.9%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
50.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Lee and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$131,579±$54k
63% above U.S.
$140,313±$12kHighest
74% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kLowest
52% above U.S.
Norwich and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$480,600±$61k
44% above U.S.
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
$442,400±$47kLowest
33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,460±$322Lowest
3% above U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
Plainfield and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,661
210% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,904Lowest
153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.3%±53.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
Work from home
27.6%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lee and Norwich 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 #3 of 120 in NH #1 of 70 in VT #19 of 120 in NH
School district Oyster River Coop School District Norwich School District Plainfield School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 10 photos → 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.