Compare towns
Cornish vs Durham vs Hampton Falls vs Plainfield
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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Hampton Falls | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816Lowest |
15,080Highest |
2,328 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Cornish and Hampton Falls 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Hampton Falls 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Hampton Falls 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Plainfield 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls and Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Cornish School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hampton Falls School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.