Compare towns

Cornish vs Plainfield vs Swanton

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 oldest population (median age 54).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Swanton has the most renters (35.2% rent).

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.

MeasureCornishPlainfieldSwanton
People
Population
1,816Lowest
2,522
2,670Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
38.9±6.5
about the U.S. average
37.8±4.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
24.3%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Swanton 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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Swanton 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.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$66,607±$27kLowest
17% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$296,000±$69k
11% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$229,000±$15kLowest
31% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,221±$227Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,238±$103
12% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,796
86% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$4,370Lowest
40% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.5%±38.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±21.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Cornish and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
20.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
64.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
8% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
Work from home
12%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.4%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Cornish 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 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.