Compare towns
Chittenden vs Reading vs Williston vs Cornwall
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 most affordable homes ($347k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Cornwall has the highest household income ($115k).
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 | Reading | Williston | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318 |
699Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
| Reading and Chittenden 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Cornwall 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
| Cornwall and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35kLowest 10% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$458,000±$49k 45% above VT |
| Williston and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488 9% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346Lowest 6% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Cornwall 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Reading 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 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.