Compare towns
Lyme vs Meredith vs Plainfield
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).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Meredith | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
6,758Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest 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% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below 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 |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% 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 |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Meredith 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% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Meredith 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.