Compare towns
Plainfield vs Middlesex vs Calais 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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Calais has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
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 | Middlesex | Calais | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Highest |
1,943 |
1,713Lowest |
1,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% 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 |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Calais 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%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% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,221±$227Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$5,796Lowest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.