Compare towns
Plainfield vs New Ipswich 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
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 | New Ipswich | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
5,310Highest |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich 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% |
12.3%±3Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and New Ipswich 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 24% above NH |
$110,507±$9k 12% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
| Plainfield and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
| Plainfield and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,221±$227 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$5,796 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich 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 NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and New Ipswich 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 | #82 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascenic Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.