Compare towns
Cornish vs Franklin vs Highgate 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).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($247k 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 | Franklin | Highgate | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816 |
1,590Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
| Cornish and Highgate 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% |
23.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Plainfield 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% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Highgate 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% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%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% |
7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin 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. |
$79,917±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$247,400±$66kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$891±$266Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,796 86% above U.S. |
$3,384Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franklin 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Cornish School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.