Compare towns
Newfields vs Durham vs Plainfield vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Newfields | Durham | Plainfield | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
15,080Highest |
2,522 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 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+ | 13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest 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+ | 68.1% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Newfields and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Newfields 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 |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 4% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfields School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.