Compare towns

Cornwall vs New Preston vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornwall has the highest household income ($129k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.

MeasureCornwallNew PrestonPlainfield
People
Population
1,425
1,146Lowest
15,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-4.7%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
53.9±5.1Highest
31% above CT
51.8±12.8
26% above CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
Cornwall and New Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 20.2%
16.9%±7
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
Plainfield and New Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.4%±2.5
CT: 18.5%
31.3%±5.5Highest
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
New Preston and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.1%Highest
CT: 42.5%
57.8%
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.8%±4.7Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
New Preston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$128,864±$34kHighest
35% above CT
$76,406±$28kLowest
20% below CT
$76,993±$8k
20% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$554,600±$106kHighest
51% above CT
$452,600±$43k
23% above CT
$272,100±$16kLowest
26% below CT
Cornwall and New Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,047±$121Lowest
30% below CT
—
$1,204±$70Highest
19% below CT
Plainfield and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,792Highest
13% below CT
$3,528Lowest
47% below CT
$4,209
37% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.8%±31.9Highest
CT: 52.6%
7.4%±89.8Lowest
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5
CT: 52.6%
Cornwall and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.2%Lowest
CT: 10%
15.8%Highest
CT: 10%
8.7%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%Highest
CT: 66.5%
85.1%
CT: 66.5%
73.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
8 yrs older than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1971Highest
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
13% above CT
29 min
8% above CT
27 minLowest
about the CT average
Work from home
32.4%±13.6Highest
CT: 16%
32.3%±28
CT: 16%
10%±4Lowest
CT: 16%
Cornwall and New Preston 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 — — #131 of 149 in CT
School district Cornwall School District — Plainfield School District
High school in town None in town — Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

CT 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.