Compare towns

Bellows Falls vs Williston 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

Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).

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.

MeasureBellows FallsWillistonCornish
People
Population
2,891
10,144Highest
1,816Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-12.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±6.7Lowest
6% above U.S.
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
Cornish and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.6%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Bellows Falls and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.7%±5.7
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornish and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bellows Falls and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,086±$2kLowest
31% below U.S.
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
$91,821±$2k
14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$195,600±$35kLowest
41% below U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$296,000±$69k
11% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,038±$109Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,448Lowest
43% above U.S.
$5,592
79% above U.S.
$5,796Highest
86% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.9%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.5%±38.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Williston and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
25.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
24% below U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
24 minHighest
8% below U.S.
Work from home
6.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Williston and Cornish 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 — #11 of 70 in VT —
School district — Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Cornish School District
High school 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.