Compare towns
Plainfield vs Webster vs Lebanon
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 expensive homes ($442k median).
Webster has the oldest population (median age 44.7).
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 | Webster | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
2,227Lowest |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
| Webster and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Webster 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% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| 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±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Plainfield and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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 |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Webster and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
31 minHighest 14% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon 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 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Merrimack Valley 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 |
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.