Compare towns
Plainfield vs Athens vs Cornish vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Athens | Cornish | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Highest |
431Lowest |
1,816 |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athens and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$476,900±$31kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,125±$537Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
$5,438Lowest 74% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±39Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athens and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Plainfield 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 | Plainfield School District | — | Cornish School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.