Compare towns
Cornish vs Dover vs Plainfield vs Wolfeboro
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 most affordable homes ($296k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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.
| Measure | Cornish | Dover | Plainfield | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816Lowest |
33,364Highest |
2,522 |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 54±8.3 25% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro 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 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Plainfield 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 7% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227 18% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,796 13% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover 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 NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 9% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Dover 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Cornish School District | Dover School District | Plainfield School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.