Compare towns
Plainfield vs Webster vs Lyndeborough
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Highest |
2,227 |
1,616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Webster 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% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest 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% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough 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±$14kLowest 8% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
| 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 10% above NH |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
| 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 12% above NH |
$1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
| 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 19% above NH |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
| Webster and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Webster 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 | — | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative 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 |
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.