Compare towns
Arkwright vs Cornwall vs Mendon vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arkwright has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Arkwright | Cornwall | Mendon | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 859Lowest |
1,208 |
1,113 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6Lowest 30% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,000±$26kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,900±$30kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$689Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,125±$206 20% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,760Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±65.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.