Compare towns
Plainfield vs Brookline vs Dunbarton vs Cornish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k 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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Brookline | Dunbarton | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
5,736Highest |
3,097 |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
| Cornish and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline 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 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookline 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 24% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
| Brookline and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,221±$227 18% below NH |
| Brookline and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Brookline School District | Dunbarton School District | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
NH 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.