Compare towns
New Preston vs Plainfield vs Cornwall
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Cornwall has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | New Preston | Plainfield | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,146Lowest |
15,141Highest |
1,425 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.8±12.8 26% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
53.9±5.1Highest 31% above 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 | 16.9%±7 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.9%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 31.3%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5 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+ | 57.8% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3Lowest 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 | $76,406±$28kLowest 20% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$128,864±$34kHighest 35% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,600±$43k 23% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$554,600±$106kHighest 51% 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 | — | $1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,047±$121Lowest 30% 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 | $3,528Lowest 47% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$5,792Highest 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.4%±89.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9Highest 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 | 15.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
8.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 32.3%±28 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest 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 | — | Plainfield School District | Cornwall School District |
| High school in town | — | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| 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.