Compare towns
Cornish vs Newfane vs Plainfield vs Lyndeborough
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%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Newfane | Plainfield | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816 |
1,456Lowest |
2,522Highest |
1,616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3 39% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
50±3.2 29% above U.S. |
| Newfane 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% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough 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% |
29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfane 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 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. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17k 45% 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. |
$284,200±$49kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26k 17% 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. |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,482±$457 5% 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. |
$5,174Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$7,133 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfane 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Plainfield School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.