Compare towns
Cornish vs Gorham 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 homeowners (94.1%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Gorham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,816Lowest |
2,682Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Cornish and Gorham 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% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Gorham 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% NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Gorham 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±$2k 7% below NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69k 26% below NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227 18% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,796 13% below NH |
$4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Gorham 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% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 9% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Cornish 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 | — | #57 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Cornish School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.