Compare towns
Brookline vs Cornwall vs Dover vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Brookline | Cornwall | Dover | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,208 |
1,466Highest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
| Dover and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cornwall and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
| Cornwall and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Brookline and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest 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 | 6.2% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 min 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Dover 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| 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.