Compare towns
Cornish vs Bennington vs Plainfield vs Lyndeborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Bennington has the most renters (25.7% rent).
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.
| Measure | Cornish | Bennington | Plainfield | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816 |
1,588Lowest |
2,522Highest |
1,616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
50±3.2 15% above NH |
| Cornish and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,821±$2k 7% below NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69k 26% below NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyndeborough and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
37 min 38% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | Plainfield School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.