Compare towns
Chelsea vs Cornwall vs Strafford
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 affordable homes ($261k median).
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Chelsea | Cornwall | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,223 |
1,208Lowest |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
50.4±4.6Lowest 17% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Chelsea and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Chelsea 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea and Cornwall 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% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Chelsea 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 |
$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 | $260,900±$39kLowest 18% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% 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 | $1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Chelsea and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Cornwall 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.