Compare towns

Cornish vs Hampton vs Lyndeborough 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).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k 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.

MeasureCornishHamptonLyndeboroughPlainfield
People
Population
1,816
1,145Lowest
1,616
2,522Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
43.1±14.7
11% above U.S.
50±3.2
29% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Cornish and Lyndeborough 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%
15.9%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
14.9%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Hampton 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%
20.6%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornish and Lyndeborough 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%
15.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Lyndeborough 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.
$73,796±$8kLowest
9% below U.S.
$116,964±$17k
45% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$296,000±$69k
11% below U.S.
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$390,900±$26k
17% above U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,221±$227Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,264±$375
11% below U.S.
$1,482±$457
5% above U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
Plainfield and Lyndeborough 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.
$3,007Lowest
4% below U.S.
$7,133
129% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.5%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
13.2%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±90Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Lyndeborough and Cornish 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%
16.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
39 minHighest
48% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
12%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±8.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Lyndeborough 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 — Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative 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.