Compare towns
Plainfield vs Lee vs South Berwick 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Lee | South Berwick | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
4,576 |
7,670Highest |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee 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. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
— | $1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,221±$227Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| South Berwick 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. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.