Compare towns
Plainfield vs Middlesex vs Cornwall vs Grantham
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 youngest population (median age 38.9).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
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 | Cornwall | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
1,943 |
1,208Lowest |
3,465Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest 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±4.6Highest 30% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6 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%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest 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%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6 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. |
$106,403±$54kLowest 32% 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. |
$343,100±$39kLowest 3% above 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. |
— |
| 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. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$7,605 144% 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% |
— |
| Cornwall and Plainfield 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than 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. |
23 min 15% 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% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest 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 | — | — | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Grantham 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.