Compare towns
Cornish vs Dover vs Wilder 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).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Wilder | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816Lowest |
33,364Highest |
3,087 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
| Cornish and Wilder 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% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Dover 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. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| 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 86% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Cornish School District | Dover School District | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | — | 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 |
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.