Compare towns
Cornish vs Berlin vs Windsor 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).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
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 | Cornish | Berlin | Windsor | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816Lowest |
3,378 |
3,554Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Cornish and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Windsor 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% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Berlin 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. |
$121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,796 86% above U.S. |
$7,116 128% above U.S. |
$5,209Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin 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 | — | #61 of 282 in MA | #61 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Cornish School District | Berlin-Boylston | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.