Compare towns

Barton vs Cornish vs Middlesex

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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.

MeasureBartonCornishMiddlesex
People
Population
730Lowest
1,816
1,943Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40±5.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
Cornish and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24.1%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
Barton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.2%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornish and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$40,833±$8kLowest
49% below U.S.
$91,821±$2k
14% above U.S.
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$146,900±$30kLowest
56% below U.S.
$296,000±$69k
11% below U.S.
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
Middlesex and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$761±$150Lowest
46% below U.S.
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
$1,333±$359Highest
6% below U.S.
Middlesex and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,185Lowest
about the U.S. average
$5,796
86% above U.S.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.8%±18.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.5%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Barton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
25.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
16.5%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Barton 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 #38 of 70 in VT — —
School district — Cornish School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town — None in town None in town
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.