Compare towns
Lyme vs Durham vs Plainfield vs Orford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
10,681Highest |
2,522 |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest 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 |
48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH |
| Orford 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% |
12.3%±3.1 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%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Orford 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% |
44%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below 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 |
$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below 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 |
$5,836Lowest 12% 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%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 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 |
26 minHighest 4% below 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% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.