Compare towns

Cornish vs Plainfield vs Whitingham

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%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k 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.

MeasureCornishPlainfieldWhitingham
People
Population
1,816
2,522Highest
1,368Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.4±7.1
19% above U.S.
Cornish and Whitingham 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%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Whitingham 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%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.1%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Whitingham 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.8%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%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Whitingham 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.
$70,625±$11kLowest
13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$296,000±$69k
11% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$262,300±$30kLowest
21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$673±$150Lowest
52% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,796
86% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$5,055Lowest
62% 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%
62.7%±47.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Whitingham and Cornish 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%
15.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
38 minHighest
44% above U.S.
Work from home
12%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.7%±5.2Lowest
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 Twin Valley Unified School District #75
High school in town None in town None in town Twin Valley Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
7.8
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.