Compare towns
Cornish vs Plainfield vs Stratham vs Lyndeborough
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k 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 | Plainfield | Stratham | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816 |
2,522 |
7,754Highest |
1,616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
50±3.2 15% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Stratham 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±$13k 24% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
| Stratham and Plainfield 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±$47k 10% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Lyndeborough 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Cornish School District | Plainfield School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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 |
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.