Compare towns
Williamstown vs Castleton vs Cornish vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Williamstown | Castleton | Cornish | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579 |
4,453Highest |
1,816Lowest |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±5 8% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Williamstown and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Williamstown and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841 23% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Williamstown 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Cornish School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | — | 9.8Highest |
| 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.