Compare towns
Calais vs Cornwall vs Ripton vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 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 | Calais | Cornwall | Ripton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
1,208 |
508Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kLowest 23% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% 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 | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
— | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Calais and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586 31% above VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older 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 |
24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.