Compare towns
Athens vs Cornish vs Plainfield vs Newbury
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 oldest population (median age 54).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Newbury has the most renters (32.2% rent).
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 | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431 |
1,816 |
2,522Highest |
393Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.3±14 24% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Newbury 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% |
27.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newbury and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.2% 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% |
6.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newbury 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. |
$76,250±$23k 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. |
$275,900±$28k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,259±$401 11% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 74% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,943Lowest 26% 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% |
51%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newbury 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 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. |
30 min 15% above 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% |
14.3%±8.1 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 | — |
| 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 |
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.