Compare towns
Chelsea vs Cornwall vs Mendon vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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 | Chelsea | Cornwall | Mendon | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,223Highest |
1,208 |
1,113 |
1,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
50.4±4.6Lowest 17% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
52.9±5.1 23% above VT |
| Chelsea and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.7%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chelsea and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$66,103±$8k 19% below 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 | $260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
| Chelsea and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,762 25% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.3%±33.2 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
3.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 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 | 30 min 28% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school 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.