Compare towns
Plainfield vs Lyndeborough vs Royalton
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).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k 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 | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
1,616Lowest |
2,752Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
43.9±10.1 13% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Royalton 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% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough 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% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyndeborough and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% 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% |
8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17k 45% above U.S. |
$103,938±$24kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$263,200±$73kLowest 21% 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. |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% 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. |
$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Royalton 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% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Royalton 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 | — | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.