Compare towns
Plainfield vs Hanover vs Lee 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 most kids (23.4% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Hanover | Lee | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
8,479Highest |
4,576 |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Lee 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% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Lee 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% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
| Hanover and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
— | $1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.