What stands out worked out from the figures below

Montpelier has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

Cornwall has the most homeowners (94.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Montpelier	Cornwall
People
Population	8,014Highest	1,208Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average	50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT
Kids under 18	17.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9%	18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Cornwall and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.3%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4%	25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4%
	Cornwall and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.1%Highest VT: 43.8%	54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.6Highest VT: 7%	3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Montpelier and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,030±$6kLowest about the VT average	$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT
	Cornwall and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,100±$21kLowest 18% above VT	$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT	$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT
	Montpelier and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,936Highest 38% above VT	$6,726Lowest 33% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.4%±9.5Lowest VT: 48.4%	61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4%
	Cornwall and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Highest VT: 10.1%	0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	94.3%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT	1976Highest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 23% below VT	24 minHighest about the VT average
Work from home	26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9%	24.4%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Montpelier and Cornwall 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	#9 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71	Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town	Montpelier High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.