Compare towns
Chittenden vs Plainfield vs Mendon vs Cornwall
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k 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 | Chittenden | Plainfield | Mendon | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318Highest |
1,314 |
1,113Lowest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
| Mendon and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 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+ | 51.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Chittenden and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
| Cornwall and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
| Mendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 6% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest 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 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.