Compare towns

Cornish vs Braintree vs Croydon 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 most homeowners (94.1%).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Croydon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).

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.

MeasureCornishBraintreeCroydonPlainfield
People
Population
1,816
1,026
798Lowest
2,522Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54±8.3
39% above U.S.
58.4±2.4Highest
50% above U.S.
43±9.1
11% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Braintree and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.4%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19%±6.3
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.3%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
33.2%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.4%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Braintree and Croydon 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%
30.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
21.4%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%
1.8%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±3.3
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Croydon 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
14% above U.S.
$79,803±$5kLowest
about the U.S. average
$98,333±$21k
22% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
Plainfield and Croydon 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.
$217,700±$28kLowest
35% below U.S.
$317,300±$33k
5% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
$840±$405Lowest
41% below U.S.
$991±$336
30% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,796
86% above U.S.
$3,908
25% above U.S.
$3,806Lowest
22% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.5%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
43.4%±29.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
7.1%±75.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Braintree 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%
11.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
12%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.3%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Braintree 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 — — — #19 of 120 in NH
School district Cornish School District Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Croydon School District Plainfield 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

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.