Compare towns
Cornish vs Franconia 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 most homeowners (94.1%).
Franconia has the most expensive homes ($530k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
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 | Franconia | Plainfield | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816 |
1,060Lowest |
2,522 |
3,554Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3 39% above U.S. |
55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Cornish 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% |
15.2%±5.5 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% |
36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franconia 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% |
57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franconia and Plainfield 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. |
$87,292±$28k 8% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$530,300±$96kHighest 59% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
| Franconia 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. |
$1,281±$278 9% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Franconia 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. |
$7,451 139% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,209Lowest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia 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% |
11.4%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% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Lowest 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 | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cornish School District | Lafayette Regional 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.