Compare towns
Cornish vs Ogunquit vs Strafford 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
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 | Ogunquit | Strafford | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816 |
1,379 |
1,372Lowest |
2,522Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3 39% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Ogunquit 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Strafford 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
— | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,796 86% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Cornish School District | — | Strafford 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.