Compare towns
Plainfield vs Durham vs Lyme vs Grantham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
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 | Plainfield | Durham | Lyme | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
15,080Highest |
1,710Lowest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
| Grantham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6 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+ | 19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9 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+ | 46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
59.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$106,403±$54kLowest 7% above NH |
| Lyme and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
— |
| Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,605Lowest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest 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 | 5.2% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
23 minHighest 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District | Grantham 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.