Compare towns
Chittenden vs Cornwall vs Middlesex vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chittenden has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Middlesex | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318 |
1,208Lowest |
1,943 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3Highest 18% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Cornwall and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Cornwall and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Middlesex and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 6% above VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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 |
VT 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.