Compare towns
Plainfield vs White River Junction vs Barre 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 expensive homes ($442k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | White River Junction | Barre | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
3,364 |
8,412Highest |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
42.2±6.6 8% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Barre 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% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Plainfield 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% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Barre 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. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,093±$58Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$5,192Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| White River Junction 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% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and White River Junction 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.