Compare towns
Claremont vs Cornish vs Durham 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
Claremont has the most affordable homes ($205k median).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Claremont | Cornish | Durham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,078Highest |
1,816Lowest |
10,681 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.5 about the NH average |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Cornish and Claremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Claremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Claremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,096±$8kLowest 40% below NH |
$91,821±$2k 7% below NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $204,600±$17kLowest 49% below NH |
$296,000±$69k 26% below NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,146±$83Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,221±$227 18% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,774Lowest 13% below NH |
$5,796 13% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.6%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Claremont and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.2% NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 22 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.6%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Durham 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 | #103 of 120 in NH | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Claremont School District | Cornish School District | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Stevens High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.