Compare towns
Cornish vs St. Albans vs White River Junction 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).
St. Albans has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | St. Albans | White River Junction | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816Lowest |
6,954Highest |
3,364 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
38.7±2 about the U.S. average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and St. Albans 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% |
13.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Plainfield 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% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and St. Albans 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. |
$57,980±$7kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$263,400±$18kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,150±$78Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,796 86% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.8%±11.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| St. Albans and White River Junction 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% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and White River Junction 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 | — | #46 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Cornish School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— | — |
| 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.