Compare towns
Cornwall vs Needham vs West Windsor vs Middlebury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 23.7).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Needham | West Windsor | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
32,459Highest |
1,171Lowest |
7,220 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
23.7±1.3Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| West Windsor 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±10 U.S.: 22% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
40.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32k 42% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$108,750±$18k 35% above U.S. |
$86,250±$18kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,000±$49k 38% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$393,500±$41kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$417,400±$31k 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206 20% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,100±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,201±$120 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,726 116% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,860Lowest 88% above U.S. |
$6,795 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — | #17 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.