Compare towns
Williston vs Cornwall vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Cornwall has the oldest population (median age 50.4).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
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 | Williston | Cornwall | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,208 |
847Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
| Cornwall and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
| Cornwall and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$458,000±$49k 45% above VT |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
| Williston and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$4,991Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Halifax School District |
| 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 |
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.