Compare towns
Sanbornton vs Cornish vs Laconia vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sanbornton has the most expensive homes ($452k median).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Laconia has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Sanbornton | Cornish | Laconia | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,053 |
1,816Lowest |
17,085Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.4 3% below NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
45.3±3.9 5% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Cornish and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.7% NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.4 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
$91,821±$2k 7% below NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,300±$30kHighest 12% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$340,300±$16k 15% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Sanbornton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,289±$198 14% below NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,224±$107 18% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,731 14% below NH |
$5,796 13% below NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton 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 | #42 of 120 in NH | — | #105 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Cornish School District | Laconia School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Laconia High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.