Compare towns
Lyme vs Newington vs Plainfield vs Thetford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Newington | Plainfield | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
939Lowest |
2,522 |
2,813Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
| Newington 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Plainfield 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 66% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Newington 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±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Newington 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,081Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 12% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lyme School District | Newington School District | Plainfield School District | Thetford 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 |
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.