Compare towns
Plainfield vs Lyndeborough vs Putney
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%).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k 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 | Lyndeborough | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
1,616Lowest |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyndeborough 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17k 45% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. 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 | $442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26k 17% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,482±$457 5% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$7,133 129% above U.S. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Lyndeborough 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.