Compare towns

Cornish vs Arkwright vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Arkwright has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

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.

MeasureCornishArkwrightPlainfield
People
Population
1,816
859Lowest
2,522Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
50.8±7.2
31% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Cornish and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornish and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
26.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,821±$2kLowest
14% above U.S.
$93,000±$26k
15% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
Plainfield and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$296,000±$69k
11% below U.S.
$170,900±$30kLowest
49% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
$875±$689Lowest
38% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,796
86% above U.S.
$3,760Lowest
21% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.5%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
50%±65.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Arkwright and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
12%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Cornish 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 History 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.