Compare towns
Berlin vs Cornwall vs Dummerston vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Dummerston has the youngest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Berlin | Cornwall | Dummerston | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,208Lowest |
2,090 |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kLowest 7% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% 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 | $273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% 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 | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Dummerston and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.