Compare towns

Middlebury vs Putnam vs Cornwall

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($266k median).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
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.

MeasureMiddleburyPutnamCornwall
People
Population
9,175Highest
540Lowest
1,208
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
31.8±3.7Lowest
18% below U.S.
53.6±6.4Highest
38% above U.S.
50.4±4.6
30% above U.S.
Putnam and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.6%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Cornwall and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
35.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.7%±6.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
32.6%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,169±$16kLowest
7% above U.S.
$92,344±$14k
14% above U.S.
$114,583±$32kHighest
42% above U.S.
Cornwall and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$409,700±$30k
23% above U.S.
$266,200±$48kLowest
20% below U.S.
$458,000±$49kHighest
38% above U.S.
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±$113Highest
18% below U.S.
—
$1,125±$206Lowest
20% below U.S.
Middlebury and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,868Highest
120% above U.S.
$3,674Lowest
18% above U.S.
$6,726
116% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.9%±14.4
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±65.5Highest
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
10.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
0.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
65.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
16 minLowest
41% below U.S.
21 min
19% below U.S.
24 minHighest
11% below U.S.
Work from home
18.8%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±6.6Highest
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 #17 of 70 in VT — —
School district Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT 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 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.