Compare towns
Plainfield vs Lyme vs Hartland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Hartland has the most affordable homes ($349k median).
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 | Lyme | Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
1,710Lowest |
3,460Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
55.8±5.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Hartland 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartland and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$86,136±$23kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$348,600±$39kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Plainfield and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,437Lowest 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.1%±89.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Plainfield 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 70 in VT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Lyme School District | Hartland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.