Compare towns
Plainfield vs Dover vs Ashland 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 highest household income ($123k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Dover | Ashland | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
33,364Highest |
2,183 |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
| Cornish and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Ashland 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Ashland 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% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover 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 24% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$91,821±$2k 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$296,000±$69k 26% below NH |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,221±$227 18% below NH |
| Plainfield and Dover 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 |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$5,796 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Dover School District | Ashland School District | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.