Compare towns
Newfields vs Plainfield vs Middlesex vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
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 | Newfields | Plainfield | Middlesex | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
2,522Highest |
1,943 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
| 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 33% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Lyme 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 | — | — |
| School district | Newfields School District | Plainfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.