Compare towns
Plainfield vs Salem 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 kids (23.4% under 18).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Salem | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
30,964Highest |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
| Cornish and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Salem 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% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest 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% |
38.7%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 Salem 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 |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
| Plainfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
| Salem 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 12% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
| Plainfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Salem 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% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Salem 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Salem School District | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.