Compare towns
Plainfield vs Wilder vs Hanover 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 kids (23.4% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wilder | Hanover | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
3,087 |
11,685Highest |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
| Hanover 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. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% 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%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.