Compare towns
Plainfield vs Kensington vs Cornish vs Madbury
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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 | Kensington | Cornish | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Highest |
2,009 |
1,816Lowest |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Cornish and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Plainfield 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% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest 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% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Kensington 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 |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Kensington and Madbury 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 |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Kensington 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 |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Cornish and Plainfield 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Kensington School District | Cornish School District | Oyster River Coop 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.