Compare towns
Cornwall vs Castleton vs Montpelier vs Chittenden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Montpelier has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Chittenden has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Cornwall | Castleton | Montpelier | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
4,453 |
8,014Highest |
1,318 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.3±2.4 about the VT average |
50.8±6.3Highest 18% 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 | 18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
51.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
$106,250±$28k 31% above 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 | $458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
$346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
$1,125±$488Lowest 9% below VT |
| Montpelier and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,726 33% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$5,346 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #9 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Montpelier High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.