Compare towns
Lee vs Plainfield vs Derby
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%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Lee | Plainfield | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Highest |
2,522Lowest |
4,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$80,250±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,096±$118Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Lee 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High 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.