Compare towns
Lyme vs Durham vs Plainfield vs Dorchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Lyme | Durham | Plainfield | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
10,681Highest |
2,522 |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
| Dorchester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
— |
| Lyme and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
— |
| Plainfield and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | — | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.