Compare towns
Cornish vs Lyndeborough vs Townsend 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 affordable homes ($296k median).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Lyndeborough | Townsend | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816 |
1,616Lowest |
9,100Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
50±3.2 29% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% 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% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Townsend 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% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 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% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%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% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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. |
$116,964±$17k 45% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$390,900±$26k 17% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Townsend 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. |
$1,482±$457 5% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% 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 | $5,796Lowest 86% above U.S. |
$7,133 129% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Lyndeborough 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Cornish School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | North Middlesex | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 7 photos → | 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.