Compare towns
Cornwall vs New Preston vs Plainfield vs West Cornwall
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 most expensive homes ($555k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
West Cornwall has the highest household income ($175k).
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 | Cornwall | New Preston | Plainfield | West Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,425 |
1,146 |
15,141Highest |
70Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.7% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 53.9±5.1 31% above CT |
51.8±12.8 26% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
61.3±14.1Highest 49% above CT |
| West Cornwall and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±7 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
8.6%±49.5Lowest 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%±5.5 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
44.3%±50.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| West Cornwall and New Preston 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% |
57.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±4.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±21.7Lowest 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±$34k 35% above CT |
$76,406±$28kLowest 20% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$175,156±$54kHighest 83% above CT |
| West Cornwall and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $554,600±$106kHighest 51% above CT |
$452,600±$43k 23% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$395,800±$64k 8% above 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 |
$3,528 47% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,056Lowest 54% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±31.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
7.4%±89.8 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
15.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
4.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
85.1% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above CT |
29 min 8% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
32.3%±28 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
14.6%±12.8 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 | 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.