Compare towns
Bradford vs Cornwall vs Mendon vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bradford has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% 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 | Bradford | Cornwall | Mendon | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,827Highest |
1,208 |
1,113Lowest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.7±3.1 about the VT average |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±5.8 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest 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+ | 36.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cornwall and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,162±$15k 33% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$87,019±$22kLowest 7% above VT |
| Cornwall and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,600±$30kLowest 18% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$808 about the VT average |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Mendon and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,472Lowest 11% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.9%±23.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 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 | 2.8% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 7.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 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 | #45 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Oxbow Unified Union School District #91 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | Oxbow Union High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — | — |
| 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.