Compare towns

Middlesex vs Cornwall vs Meredith vs Montpelier

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Cornwall has the highest household income ($115k).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).

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.

MeasureMiddlesexCornwallMeredithMontpelier
People
Population
1,943
1,208Lowest
6,758
8,014Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
50.4±4.6
30% above U.S.
55.5±3.7Highest
43% above U.S.
42.3±2.4Lowest
9% above U.S.
Meredith and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.9%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
Middlesex and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.7%±6.1
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Meredith 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%
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
66.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$109,632±$13k
36% above U.S.
$114,583±$32kHighest
42% above U.S.
$87,019±$19k
8% above U.S.
$81,030±$6kLowest
about the U.S. average
Cornwall and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$40k
13% above U.S.
$458,000±$49k
38% above U.S.
$480,100±$48kHighest
44% above U.S.
$375,100±$21kLowest
13% above U.S.
Meredith and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,333±$359Highest
6% below U.S.
$1,125±$206Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,149±$304
19% below U.S.
$1,302±$113
8% below U.S.
Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,483
108% above U.S.
$6,726
116% above U.S.
$5,006Lowest
61% above U.S.
$6,936Highest
122% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±65.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
42.4%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Cornwall and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
0.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
53.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
4% above U.S.
24 min
11% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
18 minLowest
31% below U.S.
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.9%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Montpelier 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 — — #62 of 120 in NH #9 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71
High school in town None in town None in town Inter-Lakes High School Montpelier High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.1Highest
10.4Lowest
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.