Compare towns
Cornish vs Castleton vs Lyndeborough 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).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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.
| Measure | Cornish | Castleton | Lyndeborough | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816 |
4,453Highest |
1,616Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
50±3.2 29% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
| Cornish and Lyndeborough 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% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest 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+ | 27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Lyndeborough 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% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$116,964±$17k 45% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough 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. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$390,900±$26k 17% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457 5% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$7,133 129% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Lyndeborough 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 | Cornish School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.