Compare towns
Cornwall vs Northfield vs Windham 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
Cornwall has the oldest population (median age 50.4).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% 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 | Northfield | Windham | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
5,920 |
16,038Highest |
9,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6Highest 30% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1 6% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
31.8±3.7Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
32.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32k 42% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$86,169±$16k 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,000±$49k 38% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$409,700±$30k 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206 20% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,156±$113 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,726 116% above U.S. |
$4,878Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±14.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
16 minLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Windham 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | #13 of 120 in NH | #17 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Windham School District | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Windham High School | Middlebury Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.