Compare towns
Lyme vs Plainfield vs Lebanon
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).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Plainfield | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,522 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Lebanon 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% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon 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±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| Lebanon 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 |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Lebanon 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
22 minHighest 18% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Plainfield School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| 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.