Compare towns

Auburn vs Cornish vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureAuburnCornishPlainfield
People
Population
6,119Highest
1,816Lowest
2,522
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+20%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+4%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
44.3±5.9
about the NH average
54±8.3Highest
25% above NH
38.9±6.5Lowest
10% below NH
Cornish and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.3%±4.3
NH: 18.2%
14.4%±3.2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
23.4%±5.8Highest
NH: 18.2%
Plainfield and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.4%±3.2Lowest
NH: 20.1%
27.3%±4.1Highest
NH: 20.1%
19.8%±4.5
NH: 20.1%
Cornish and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%Highest
NH: 40.6%
40.6%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
46.7%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±4.7Highest
NH: 6%
1.4%±0.9Lowest
NH: 6%
4.8%±2.3
NH: 6%
Auburn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$153,253±$6kHighest
55% above NH
$91,821±$2kLowest
7% below NH
$122,656±$13k
24% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$600,300±$29kHighest
49% above NH
$296,000±$69kLowest
26% below NH
$442,400±$47k
10% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,893±$822Highest
27% above NH
$1,221±$227Lowest
18% below NH
$1,674±$181
12% above NH
Auburn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,092Highest
21% above NH
$5,796Lowest
13% below NH
$7,904
19% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.6%±27Lowest
NH: 48.2%
40.5%±38.1Highest
NH: 48.2%
31.8%±23.1
NH: 48.2%
Cornish and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.5%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4.7%
NH: 7.2%
5.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%
NH: 72.8%
94.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
87.3%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
1980
1 yr newer than NH
1977Lowest
2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above NH
24 min
9% below NH
22 minLowest
18% below NH
Work from home
26.5%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
12%±4.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
18.1%±8.5
NH: 16.8%
Auburn 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 #44 of 120 in NH — #19 of 120 in NH
School district Auburn School District Cornish School District Plainfield 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

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.