Compare towns
Plainfield vs Eliot vs Durham 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).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Eliot | Durham | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
7,146 |
15,080Highest |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Eliot 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% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Eliot 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% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Cornish 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% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 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. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Durham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,221±$227Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Plainfield 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Eliot 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.