Compare towns
Appleton vs Cornwall vs Reading vs West Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
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 | Appleton | Cornwall | Reading | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
1,208 |
699Lowest |
1,171 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±10Highest U.S.: 22% |
| West Windsor and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Windsor and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$108,750±$18k 35% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$393,500±$41k 18% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$206Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,100±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Cornwall and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,726Highest 116% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,860 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.