Compare towns
Plainfield vs Durham vs Wilder 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 most kids (23.4% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Wilder | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
15,080Highest |
3,087 |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Wilder 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Cornish 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Durham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.