What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).

North Hero has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Cornish	North Hero
People
Population	1,816Highest	1,263Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54±8.3Lowest 39% above U.S.	54.2±6.7Highest 39% above U.S.
	North Hero and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	North Hero and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2%	27.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,821±$2kLowest 14% above U.S.	$102,143±$24kHighest 27% above U.S.
	North Hero and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S.	$451,400±$66kHighest 36% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,221±$227Lowest 14% below U.S.	$1,556±$360Highest 10% above U.S.
	North Hero and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,796Highest 86% above U.S.	$5,132Lowest 65% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.3%±98.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Hero and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980 same as U.S.	1980 same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Hero and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Cornish School District	Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.