Compare towns

Plainfield vs Springfield vs Cornish vs Lebanon

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).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldSpringfieldCornishLebanon
People
Population
2,522
1,122Lowest
1,816
14,999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%
NH: +4.6%
-4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
-1.5%
NH: +4.6%
+8.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.9±6.5Lowest
10% below NH
51.4±8.8
19% above NH
54±8.3Highest
25% above NH
38.9±3.1Lowest
10% below NH
Cornish and Springfield 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%
15.1%±8
NH: 18.2%
14.4%±3.2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
14.6%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±4.5Lowest
NH: 20.1%
19.8%±1.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
27.3%±4.1Highest
NH: 20.1%
21.4%±2.6
NH: 20.1%
Cornish and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.7%
NH: 40.6%
36.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
40.6%
NH: 40.6%
57.5%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.3
NH: 6%
0%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
1.4%±0.9
NH: 6%
6.9%±2.6Highest
NH: 6%
Lebanon 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
24% above NH
$100,893±$19k
about the NH average
$91,821±$2kLowest
7% below NH
$98,147±$10k
about the NH average
Plainfield and Springfield 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
$384,100±$50k
5% below NH
$296,000±$69kLowest
26% below NH
$385,400±$29k
4% below NH
Plainfield and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,674±$181
12% above NH
$1,096±$217Lowest
26% below NH
$1,221±$227
18% below NH
$1,744±$132Highest
17% above NH
Lebanon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,904
19% above NH
$5,946
11% below NH
$5,796Lowest
13% below NH
$8,149Highest
22% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±23.1
NH: 48.2%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
NH: 48.2%
40.5%±38.1
NH: 48.2%
41.9%±7.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
Lebanon 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%
3.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4.7%
NH: 7.2%
7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%
NH: 72.8%
90.7%
NH: 72.8%
94.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
51.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
2 yrs older than NH
1985Highest
6 yrs newer than NH
1980
1 yr newer than NH
1980
1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
18% below NH
34 minHighest
29% above NH
24 min
9% below NH
14 minLowest
48% below NH
Work from home
18.1%±8.5
NH: 16.8%
16.7%±11.6
NH: 16.8%
12%±4.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
22.8%±4.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
Lebanon and Plainfield 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 — — #29 of 120 in NH
School district Plainfield School District — Cornish School District Lebanon School District
High school in town None in town — None in town Lebanon High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
11.7
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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.