Compare towns

Lunenburg vs Plainfield vs Orange

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).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Orange has the most homeowners (87.8%).

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.

MeasureLunenburgPlainfieldOrange
People
Population
1,267
2,522Highest
957Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.2±4.2Highest
32% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
50.3±5.3
29% above U.S.
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%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±4.7
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%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±4Lowest
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%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.9Lowest
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.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$71,302±$13k
12% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$164,000±$11kLowest
51% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$222,000±$22k
33% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,025±$172Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,330±$153
6% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,702Lowest
13% below U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$3,545
14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.5%±57.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±87Lowest
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%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
4.9%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.5%±4.3
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 Plainfield School District Echo Valley Community Union School District #67
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.