Compare towns
Cornish vs Plainfield vs Hancock
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 most affordable homes ($296k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Plainfield | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,816 |
2,522Highest |
1,791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
| Cornish and Hancock 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hancock 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
53.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Hancock 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 |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
| Plainfield and Hancock 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 |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
| Plainfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227 18% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$6,884 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Cornish and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Hancock 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 | Plainfield School District | Contoocook Valley 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 |
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.