Compare towns

Cornish vs Durham 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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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.

MeasureCornishDurhamPlainfield
People
Population
1,816Lowest
4,262Highest
2,522
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
42.6±5.9
10% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Cornish and Durham 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%
19.7%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Durham 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%
16.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornish and Plainfield 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%
34.8%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%
4.9%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Durham 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
14% above U.S.
$99,181±$5k
23% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$296,000±$69kLowest
11% below U.S.
$322,200±$34k
3% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,221±$227Lowest
14% below U.S.
—
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,796
86% above U.S.
$3,781Lowest
21% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.5%±38.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25%±40.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Cornish and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
12%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Durham 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 — #14 of 133 in ME #19 of 120 in NH
School district Cornish School District RSU 05 Plainfield School District
High school in town None 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.