Compare towns
Cornish vs Monkton vs Calais 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 most affordable homes ($296k median).
Monkton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Calais has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k 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 | Monkton | Calais | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816 |
1,999 |
1,713Lowest |
2,522Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
47.1±5.4 21% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Cornish and Monkton 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% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Calais 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% |
20.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais 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±$2kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$119,688±$28k 48% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$379,900±$18k 14% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,301±$120 8% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,796Lowest 86% above U.S. |
$5,887 89% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±64Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Monkton and Calais 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% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Monkton and Calais 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 |
| School district | Cornish School District | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Plainfield 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.