Compare towns
Plainfield vs Norwich vs Lebanon
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 the most homeowners (87.3%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Plainfield | Norwich | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
3,640 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.8±3.2Highest 5% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Plainfield 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% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lebanon 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon 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±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Norwich 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. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Lowest 153% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lebanon 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% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Norwich 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Norwich School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| 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.