Compare towns
Lyndeborough vs Plainfield vs Sunapee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyndeborough has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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 | Lyndeborough | Plainfield | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,616Lowest |
2,522 |
3,416Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±3.2 15% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
| Sunapee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,133 7% above NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±90Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyndeborough and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough 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 | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.