Compare towns
Lyme vs Madbury vs Plainfield vs Rollinsford
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 expensive homes ($645k median).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Rollinsford has the most affordable homes ($398k 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 | Lyme | Madbury | Plainfield | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,203 |
2,522 |
2,626Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
| Lyme and Plainfield 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% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Plainfield 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% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
| Madbury and Lyme 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 |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH |
| Rollinsford and Plainfield 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 |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Rollinsford 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% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Rollinsford 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 | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District | Rollinsford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.