Compare towns
Plainfield vs Holderness vs Brentwood 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Holderness has the most renters (16.3% rent).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Holderness | Brentwood | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
1,917 |
4,641Highest |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
| Cornish and Brentwood 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% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Holderness 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% NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$528,100±$75kHighest 31% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
| Brentwood and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$2,068±$385 39% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
| Brentwood and Holderness 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 |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
$5,796 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood 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% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood 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 | — | #16 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Holderness School District | Brentwood School District | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 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.