Compare towns
Plainfield vs White River Junction vs Madbury vs Cornish
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 most people working from home (18.1%).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Madbury has the most kids (29% 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 | White River Junction | Madbury | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
3,364Highest |
2,203 |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Plainfield 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. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$476,900±$31kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
| Madbury 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. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
$1,221±$227Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| White River Junction and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and White River Junction 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Cornish School District |
| High school 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.