Compare towns

Strafford vs Plainfield vs Cornwall

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the most affordable homes ($431k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).

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.

MeasureStraffordPlainfieldCornwall
People
Population
1,372
2,522Highest
1,208Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.4±4.7Highest
32% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
50.4±4.6
30% above U.S.
Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.1%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.7%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Strafford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,833±$19kLowest
37% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$114,583±$32k
42% above U.S.
Plainfield and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$431,300±$40kLowest
30% above U.S.
$442,400±$47k
33% above U.S.
$458,000±$49kHighest
38% above U.S.
Cornwall and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$789Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,125±$206Lowest
20% below U.S.
Plainfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,149
129% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$6,726Lowest
116% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±48
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±65.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
0.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
13% below U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
24 minHighest
11% below U.S.
Work from home
16.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Cornwall 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 —
School district Strafford School District Plainfield School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.