Compare towns

Cornwall vs Reading vs Bellows Falls

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 highest household income ($115k).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).

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.

MeasureCornwallReadingBellows Falls
People
Population
1,208
699Lowest
2,891Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-12.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.4±4.6
17% above VT
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
41.3±6.7Lowest
4% below VT
Reading 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%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
22.6%±6.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Bellows Falls and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.7%±6.1
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
23.7%±5.7Lowest
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+
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46%
VT: 43.8%
27.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.1
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
8.2%±4.3Highest
VT: 7%
Bellows Falls and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$114,583±$32kHighest
41% above VT
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
$56,086±$2kLowest
31% below VT
Cornwall and Reading 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
$377,200±$72k
19% above VT
$195,600±$35kLowest
38% below VT
Cornwall and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$206Highest
9% below VT
$1,100±$331
11% below VT
$1,038±$109Lowest
16% below VT
Cornwall and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,726Highest
33% above VT
$5,754
14% above VT
$4,448Lowest
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±65.5
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
43.9%±16.8Lowest
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
0.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%
VT: 10.1%
25.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
50.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
same as VT
1969
7 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
33 minHighest
41% above VT
20 minLowest
14% below VT
Work from home
24.4%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
6.9%±5.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Cornwall and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.