Compare towns
Plainfield vs Shelburne 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 the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k 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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Shelburne | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
7,969Highest |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.9±3.2 31% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Shelburne 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% |
20.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Shelburne 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% |
29.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shelburne 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Shelburne 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. |
$115,963±$16k 44% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$588,100±$44kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,442±$589 about the U.S. average |
$1,221±$227Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
$8,173Highest 162% above U.S. |
$5,796Lowest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±10.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shelburne 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shelburne and Plainfield 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 | #8 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.