Compare towns
Chittenden vs Cornwall vs West Fairlee
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318Highest |
1,208 |
711Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3Highest 18% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above 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%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Cornwall 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% |
44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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±$28k 31% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT |
| Cornwall and Chittenden 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 |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 6% above VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$5,210Lowest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Chittenden 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.