Compare towns
Plainfield vs Berlin vs Derby vs Cornish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).
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 | Plainfield | Berlin | Derby | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
2,880 |
4,537Highest |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$80,250±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Cornish 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #16 of 70 in VT | #52 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Cornish 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.