Compare towns
Cornish vs Putney vs Lancaster 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).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Putney | Lancaster | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816Lowest |
2,622 |
3,216Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
| Cornish and Lancaster 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% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Lancaster 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Cornish 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% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,796 86% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney 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% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #107 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Cornish School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | White Mountains Regional 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 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.