Compare towns
Barton vs Cornwall vs Mendon vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Barton | Cornwall | Mendon | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730Lowest |
1,208 |
1,113 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Mendon 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| 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 |
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.