Compare towns
Plainfield vs Keene vs Hartland 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Hartland has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).
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 | Keene | Hartland | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
22,939Highest |
3,460 |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
55.8±5.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
54±8.3 39% above U.S. |
| Hartland and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartland 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$86,136±$23k 7% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$348,600±$39k 5% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
— | $1,221±$227Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$6,437 106% above U.S. |
$5,796Lowest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.1%±89.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Keene 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% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #29 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Keene School District | Hartland School District | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.