Compare towns
Castleton vs Cornish vs Plainfield vs Wallingford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Wallingford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | Castleton | Cornish | Plainfield | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,816Lowest |
2,522 |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
45.9±10.8 18% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$80,230±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$261,900±$44k 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$891±$95Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,355 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Cornish 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Cornish School District | Plainfield School District | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None 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.