Compare towns
Plainfield vs Kensington vs Wilder 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 the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Kensington | Wilder | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
2,009 |
3,087Highest |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Wilder 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% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Kensington 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% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
| Kensington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornish and Wilder 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% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 |
| High school 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 |
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.