Compare towns
Cornish vs Exeter vs Freedom 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%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Exeter | Freedom | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816 |
1,093Lowest |
1,494 |
2,522Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3 39% above U.S. |
52.6±7.7 35% above U.S. |
60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Freedom 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Cornish 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% |
23.9%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Exeter 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. |
$84,408±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$166,700±$39kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$389,000±$43k 17% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Freedom 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. |
$995±$386Lowest 30% below U.S. |
— | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,796 86% above U.S. |
$1,602Lowest 49% below U.S. |
$3,478 12% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freedom 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 | — | Freedom School District | 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 | 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.