Compare towns

Cornish vs Augusta vs Plainfield

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

MeasureCornishAugustaPlainfield
People
Population
1,816Lowest
19,077Highest
2,522
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
42.5±2.4
9% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.5%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornish and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,821±$2k
14% above U.S.
$47,979±$3kLowest
41% below U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$296,000±$69k
11% below U.S.
$201,000±$18kLowest
40% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
$919±$79Lowest
35% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,796
86% above U.S.
$2,465Lowest
21% below U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.5%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±8.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Augusta and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
53.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
8% below U.S.
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
Work from home
12%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Augusta 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 — #119 of 133 in ME #19 of 120 in NH
School district Cornish School District Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy Plainfield School District
High school in town None in town Cony None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
17.9
—
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.