Compare towns
Cornish vs Plainfield vs Whiting 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 oldest population (median age 54).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% 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.
| Measure | Cornish | Plainfield | Whiting | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816 |
2,522Highest |
532Lowest |
1,616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
50±3.2 29% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting 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±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38kLowest 13% 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. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$280,400±$36kLowest 16% below 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±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,204±$519Lowest 15% below 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,227Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$7,133 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.