Compare towns
Northfield vs Cornish vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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.
| Measure | Northfield | Cornish | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
1,816Lowest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34k 5% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$422,400±$92kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$6,208Highest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waitsfield and Northfield 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Cornish School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.