Compare towns

Plainfield vs Bellows Falls vs Cornish

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldBellows FallsCornish
People
Population
2,522
2,891Highest
1,816Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-12.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.3±6.7
6% above U.S.
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
Cornish and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.7%±5.7
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornish and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
27.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
8.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bellows Falls 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±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$56,086±$2kLowest
31% below U.S.
$91,821±$2k
14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$195,600±$35kLowest
41% below U.S.
$296,000±$69k
11% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,038±$109Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$4,448Lowest
43% above U.S.
$5,796
86% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.9%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.5%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Bellows Falls 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%
25.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
17% below U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
24 minHighest
8% below U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±4.1
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 Plainfield School District — Cornish School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.