Compare towns
Cornish vs Derby vs Plainfield vs Sanbornton
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%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Sanbornton has the most expensive homes ($452k median).
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 | Derby | Plainfield | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816Lowest |
4,537Highest |
2,522 |
3,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.9±5.4 8% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Derby 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% |
15.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton 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% |
27.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Derby 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% |
36.8%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%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Derby 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. |
$80,250±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$113,750±$41k 41% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton 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. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$452,300±$30kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Sanbornton and Plainfield 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. |
$1,096±$118Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,289±$198 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,796 86% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,731 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby 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% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton 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 | — | #52 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Cornish School District | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Plainfield School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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.