Compare towns
Plainfield vs Canton 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 the shortest commute (22 min average).
Canton 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 | Canton | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
24,748Highest |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Canton 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% |
18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest 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+ | 46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Canton 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. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Canton 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. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,221±$227Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
$5,796Lowest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as 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. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Canton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.