Compare towns
Plainfield vs Holderness vs Dover 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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Dover | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
1,917 |
33,364Highest |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
| Cornish and Holderness 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% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Dover 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% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
| Plainfield and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
| Plainfield and Dover 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±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
| Holderness and Plainfield 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 |
$8,249Highest 24% 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% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover 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% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 min 15% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Holderness School District | Dover School District | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.