Compare towns
Waterville vs Cornish vs Johnson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Cornish has the most people working from home (12%).
Johnson has the youngest population (median age 30.9).
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 | Waterville | Cornish | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,816 |
3,450Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Johnson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 27% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,310Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±20.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Johnson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornish and Johnson 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 | — | — | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Cornish School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.