Compare towns
Cornish vs Mason 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 oldest population (median age 54).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
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 | Mason | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,816 |
1,451Lowest |
2,522Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Cornish and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Plainfield 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% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Plainfield 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% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Mason 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 7% below NH |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Plainfield and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
| Plainfield and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Mason 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 |
$7,049 6% above NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason 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 NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Mason 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 | Mason School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.