Compare towns
Plainfield vs Rochester 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 most people working from home (18.1%).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Rochester | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
33,144Highest |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Rochester 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% |
19.6%±1.9Lowest 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% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Rochester 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 |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$91,821±$2k 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$296,000±$69k 26% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$5,796 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Rochester 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Cornish 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Rochester School District | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.2 |
— |
| 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.