Compare towns
Plainfield vs Hooksett vs Cornish vs Grantham
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 people working from home (18.1%).
Hooksett has the most renters (19.4% rent).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
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 | Hooksett | Cornish | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
15,057Highest |
1,816Lowest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
50.4±7.5 16% above NH |
| Cornish and Grantham 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% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Grantham 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% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Plainfield 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% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
$106,403±$54k 7% above NH |
| Plainfield and Hooksett 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 |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$343,100±$39k 15% below NH |
| Plainfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
— |
| Plainfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,605 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
— |
| Hooksett and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 9% below NH |
23 min 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Grantham 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Hooksett School District | Cornish School District | Grantham 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 | 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.