Compare towns

Cornish vs Brandon 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 most homeowners (94.1%).
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k median).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).

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.

MeasureCornishBrandonPlainfield
People
Population
1,816Lowest
4,120Highest
2,522
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
50.1±3.1
29% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Cornish and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Brandon 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%
22.3%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornish and Brandon 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%
32.1%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%
2.5%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Brandon 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.
$64,180±$12kLowest
21% below U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$296,000±$69k
11% below U.S.
$227,800±$23kLowest
32% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
$1,064±$225Lowest
25% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,796
86% above U.S.
$4,241Lowest
36% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.5%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±15.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brandon 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%
14.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
8% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
12%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
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 — #69 of 70 in VT #19 of 120 in NH
School district Cornish School District Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 Plainfield School District
High school in town None in town Otter Valley Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.9
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.