Compare towns
Castleton vs Cornish vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Castleton | Cornish | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,816Lowest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waitsfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34k 5% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$422,400±$92kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$6,208Highest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waitsfield 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Cornish School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None 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.