Compare towns
Chittenden vs Cornwall vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chittenden has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Cornwall has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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.
| Measure | Chittenden | Cornwall | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318 |
1,208Lowest |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Chittenden and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chittenden and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32k 42% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49k 38% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Cornwall 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 | — | — | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Nashoba |
| 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.