Compare towns
Barrington vs Cornish vs Plainfield vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barrington has the most people working from home (18.7%).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Barrington | Cornish | Plainfield | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
1,816Lowest |
2,522 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 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+ | 42.4% NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Plainfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30k about the NH average |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Barrington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121 7% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington 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 | #65 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Cornish School District | Plainfield School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.