Compare towns

Cornish vs Brighton vs Plainfield vs Windsor

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).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Windsor has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).

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.

MeasureCornishBrightonPlainfieldWindsor
People
Population
1,816
1,167Lowest
2,522
3,554Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
45.2±11.6
16% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.8±6.5
15% above U.S.
Cornish and Brighton 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%
18.3%±5.7
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±5.2
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%
27.2%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Windsor and Cornish 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%
25.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.7%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Brighton 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.
$47,375±$21kLowest
41% below U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$52,484±$11k
35% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$296,000±$69k
11% below U.S.
$163,900±$39kLowest
51% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$207,500±$31k
38% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
$775±$33Lowest
45% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,026±$89
27% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,796
86% above U.S.
$3,360Lowest
8% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$5,209
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.5%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
55%±17Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
31.5%±17Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brighton 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%
22%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
57.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
Work from home
12%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
12.4%±8.1
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Brighton 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 #61 of 70 in VT
School district Cornish School District Brighton School District Plainfield School District —
High school 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.