Compare towns
Springfield vs Plainfield vs Grafton 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
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Lyndeborough has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Springfield | Plainfield | Grafton | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,122Lowest |
2,522Highest |
1,354 |
1,616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
43.1±10.6 about the NH average |
50±3.2 15% above NH |
| Springfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.8 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$81,563±$22kLowest 18% below 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 | $384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$267,300±$23kLowest 34% 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 | $1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,243±$163 17% 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 | $5,946 11% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$5,239Lowest 21% below NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±34.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyndeborough and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
83.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
43 minHighest 62% above NH |
39 min 46% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Grafton 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | — | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.