Compare towns
Cornish vs Starks vs Mapleton 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).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Starks | Mapleton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816 |
556Lowest |
1,884 |
2,522Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.7±9.4 20% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Cornish and Starks 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% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Mapleton 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% |
20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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. |
$63,500±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,063±$301 25% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,796 86% above U.S. |
$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±90.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Starks 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% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest 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 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Plainfield School District |
| High school 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.