Compare towns
Plainfield vs Dalton 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%).
Dalton has the most renters (29.3% rent).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Dalton | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
6,256Highest |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Dalton 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% |
20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Dalton 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% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Cornish 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% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Dalton 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. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dalton and Cornish 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% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Dalton 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Central Berkshire | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.