Compare towns
Plainfield vs Madbury vs Chichester vs Cornish
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).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Chichester has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Madbury | Chichester | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
2,203 |
2,745Highest |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
43±3.3 about the NH average |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
| Cornish and Chichester 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% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest 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% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest 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% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Chichester 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 |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$109,297±$13k 10% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
| Madbury 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 10% above NH |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$409,300±$26k about the NH average |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
| Madbury 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 12% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$2,055±$275Highest 38% above NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
| Chichester 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,189 8% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Chichester and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
19%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Chichester 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 | — | #75 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Chichester School District | Cornish 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.