Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Cornish vs Castleton vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% 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.
| Measure | Waitsfield | Cornish | Castleton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,918 |
1,816Lowest |
4,453 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below 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 | 23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Waitsfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest 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+ | 63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34k 5% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below 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 | $422,400±$92kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below 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 | $1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% 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 | $6,208Highest 99% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Cornish School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.