Compare towns
Williston vs Middlesex vs Cornwall vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has the most renters (24.9% rent).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Cornwall has the oldest population (median age 50.4).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k 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 | Middlesex | Cornwall | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,943 |
1,208Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
| Cornwall and Stowe 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$93,618±$33kLowest 15% above VT |
| Cornwall and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$458,000±$49k 45% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Stowe and Williston 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Williston 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% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.