Compare towns
Athens vs Cornish vs Plainfield vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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 | Athens | Cornish | Plainfield | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,816 |
2,522Highest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
54±8.3 39% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$76,111±$7k 6% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$343,200±$85k 3% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,288±$174 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 74% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,843Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±69.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Grafton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens 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 | — | Cornish School District | Plainfield School District | Athens Grafton 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 | 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.