Compare towns
Middlebury vs Castleton vs Cornwall vs Middlebury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Cornwall has the highest household income ($115k).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
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 | Middlebury | Castleton | Cornwall | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,175Highest |
4,453 |
1,208Lowest |
7,220 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+10.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.8±3.7 26% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±1.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest 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+ | 20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 55.4% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 32.6%±1.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$86,250±$18k 6% above VT |
| Cornwall and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,700±$30k 29% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$417,400±$31k 32% above VT |
| Cornwall and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,156±$113 6% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,201±$120Highest about the VT average |
| Middlebury and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
$6,795 35% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8 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 | 10.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.1% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 16 min 33% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #17 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | Middlebury Union High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.