Compare towns
Plainfield vs Windham vs Lyme vs Grantham
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 youngest population (median age 38.9).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Grantham has the most affordable homes ($343k 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 | Windham | Lyme | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
16,038Highest |
1,710Lowest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
| Grantham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham 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 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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 NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$106,403±$54kLowest 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
| Windham and Lyme 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 |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,605Lowest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
— |
| Lyme and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
23 min 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Windham School District | Lyme School District | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.