Compare towns

Windsor vs Montpelier vs Cornish

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Montpelier has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).

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.

MeasureWindsorMontpelierCornish
People
Population
3,554
8,014Highest
1,816Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.8±6.5
15% above U.S.
42.3±2.4Lowest
9% above U.S.
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
Cornish and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.9%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Windsor and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.7%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Windsor and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
66.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.7%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$52,484±$11kLowest
35% below U.S.
$81,030±$6k
about the U.S. average
$91,821±$2kHighest
14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$207,500±$31kLowest
38% below U.S.
$375,100±$21kHighest
13% above U.S.
$296,000±$69k
11% below U.S.
Montpelier and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,026±$89Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,302±$113Highest
8% below U.S.
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
Montpelier and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,209Lowest
67% above U.S.
$6,936Highest
122% above U.S.
$5,796
86% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.5%±17Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.4%±9.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.5%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Montpelier and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
57.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
53.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1955
25 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below U.S.
18 minLowest
31% below U.S.
24 minHighest
8% below U.S.
Work from home
10.3%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.9%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #61 of 70 in VT #9 of 70 in VT —
School district — Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 Cornish School District
High school in town — Montpelier High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 12 photos → 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.