Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Orange 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
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Orange has the most homeowners (87.8%).
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 | Lunenburg | Orange | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,267 |
957Lowest |
2,522Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.2Highest 32% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Lunenburg and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lunenburg and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,125±$9kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $164,000±$11kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$222,000±$22k 33% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,025±$172Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153 6% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,702Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$3,545 14% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±57.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lunenburg and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Orange 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 | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.