Compare towns

Windsor vs Plainfield vs Lyndeborough vs Royalton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Royalton has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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.

MeasureWindsorPlainfieldLyndeboroughRoyalton
People
Population
3,554Highest
2,522
1,616Lowest
2,752
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.8±6.5
15% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
50±3.2Highest
29% above U.S.
43.9±10.1
13% above U.S.
Lyndeborough and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.9%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.7%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±6.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Windsor and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.7%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
8%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Royalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$52,484±$11kLowest
35% below U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$116,964±$17k
45% above U.S.
$103,938±$24k
29% above U.S.
Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$207,500±$31kLowest
38% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$390,900±$26k
17% above U.S.
$263,200±$73k
21% below U.S.
Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,026±$89Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,482±$457
5% above U.S.
$1,040±$391
26% below U.S.
Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,209
67% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$7,133
129% above U.S.
$4,675Lowest
50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.5%±17Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±90Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.7%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Lyndeborough and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
57.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
63.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
39 minHighest
48% above U.S.
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
Work from home
10.3%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±7.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Royalton 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 #61 of 70 in VT #19 of 120 in NH — #48 of 70 in VT
School district — Plainfield School District Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District White River Unified School District #79
High school in town — None in town None in town White River Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
8.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.