Compare towns
Plainfield vs Waitsfield 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 most kids (23.4% under 18).
Waitsfield has the most people working from home (31%).
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 | Waitsfield | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Highest |
193Lowest |
1,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
74.8±13.4Highest 92% above U.S. |
54±8.3 39% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Cornish 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% |
0%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Cornish 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% |
71.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±9.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waitsfield and Plainfield 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. |
$26,384±$5kLowest 67% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$453,100±$98kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
— | $1,221±$227Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,688Lowest 50% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±49.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waitsfield and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
33.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
31%±23.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waitsfield 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 | — | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.