Compare towns

Cornish vs Sheldon vs Troy vs Plainfield

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).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Troy has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k 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.

MeasureCornishSheldonTroyPlainfield
People
Population
1,816
2,267
1,749Lowest
2,522Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
40.9±3.5
5% above U.S.
44.5±5.7
14% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Cornish and Troy 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%
23.7%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
Sheldon 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%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5
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%
14.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Troy 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.
$78,533±$25kLowest
about the U.S. average
$87,938±$11k
9% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$296,000±$69k
11% below U.S.
$272,400±$61k
18% below U.S.
$233,200±$21kLowest
30% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
$1,286±$379
9% below U.S.
$646±$323Lowest
54% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
Plainfield and Sheldon 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.
$3,578Lowest
15% above U.S.
$3,644
17% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.5%±38.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.8%±26.3
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Cornish and Plainfield 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%
5.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below U.S.
25 minHighest
5% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
12%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Sheldon 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 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Troy School District Plainfield 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 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.