Compare towns

Plainfield vs Halifax 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 expensive homes ($442k median).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldHalifaxCornish
People
Population
2,522Highest
847Lowest
1,816
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
40.6±13.1
4% above U.S.
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
Cornish and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.4%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
25.4%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Halifax and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±7.2
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornish and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
40.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$63,889±$7kLowest
21% below U.S.
$91,821±$2k
14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$267,500±$21kLowest
20% below U.S.
$296,000±$69k
11% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$875±$154Lowest
38% below U.S.
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$4,991Lowest
60% above U.S.
$5,796
86% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±73.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.5%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Halifax 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%
6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
29.9%±11.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Halifax 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 — —
School district Plainfield School District Halifax School District Cornish School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.