Compare towns

Cornwall vs Wells 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 highest household income ($115k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 31.8).
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.

MeasureCornwallWellsMiddlebury
People
Population
1,208Lowest
11,713Highest
9,175
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.4±4.6
30% above U.S.
53.6±3.8Highest
38% above U.S.
31.8±3.7Lowest
18% below U.S.
Wells and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
11.6%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Cornwall and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.7%±6.1
U.S.: 17.2%
31%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wells 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
32.6%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$114,583±$32kHighest
42% above U.S.
$88,024±$11k
9% above U.S.
$86,169±$16kLowest
7% above U.S.
Cornwall and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$458,000±$49k
38% above U.S.
$485,300±$23kHighest
46% above U.S.
$409,700±$30kLowest
23% above U.S.
Wells and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$206Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,350±$297Highest
4% below U.S.
$1,156±$113
18% below U.S.
Wells and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,726
116% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
$6,868Highest
120% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±65.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.9%±14.4
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%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
65.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
11% below U.S.
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
16 minLowest
41% below U.S.
Work from home
24.4%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.8%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Cornwall and Middlebury 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 — #22 of 133 in ME #17 of 70 in VT
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Wells-Ogunquit CSD Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town None in town Wells High School Middlebury Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4Lowest
12.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.