Compare towns

Plainfield vs Middlesex vs Cornwall 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%).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldMiddlesexCornwallCornish
People
Population
2,522Highest
1,943
1,208Lowest
1,816
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%
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.
50.4±4.6
30% above U.S.
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
Cornish and Cornwall 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%
18.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Middlesex 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%
25.7%±6.1
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornish and Cornwall 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%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%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex 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±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$109,632±$13k
36% above U.S.
$114,583±$32k
42% above U.S.
$91,821±$2kLowest
14% above U.S.
Plainfield and Cornwall 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.
$376,300±$40k
13% above U.S.
$458,000±$49kHighest
38% above U.S.
$296,000±$69kLowest
11% below U.S.
Cornwall and Plainfield 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.
$1,125±$206Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
Plainfield and Middlesex 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.
$6,726
116% 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%
61.9%±65.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.5%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Cornwall 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%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
0.8%Lowest
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%
94.3%
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 minHighest
4% above U.S.
24 min
11% below 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%
24.4%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Cornwall 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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Cornish School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.