Compare towns

Chittenden vs Strafford vs Brookfield vs Cornwall

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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.

MeasureChittendenStraffordBrookfieldCornwall
People
Population
1,318
1,372
1,486Highest
1,208Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.7%
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.8±6.3
18% above VT
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
47±5.9Lowest
9% above VT
50.4±4.6
17% above VT
Strafford 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%
23%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
18.7%±3
VT: 17.9%
Strafford and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.8%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
29.7%±6.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
25.7%±6.1
VT: 21.4%
Brookfield 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%
53.3%
VT: 43.8%
45.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.6
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
3.2%±2.4Lowest
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.1
VT: 7%
Strafford and Chittenden 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
$110,833±$19k
36% above VT
$98,500±$23kLowest
21% above VT
$114,583±$32kHighest
41% 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
$346,800±$35k
10% above VT
$431,300±$40k
36% above VT
$339,300±$15kLowest
7% above VT
$458,000±$49kHighest
45% 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
$1,125±$488Highest
9% below VT
$1,125±$789Highest
9% below VT
$975±$306Lowest
21% below VT
$1,125±$206Highest
9% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,346
6% above VT
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
$4,560Lowest
10% below VT
$6,726
33% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
14.8%±55.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48
VT: 48.4%
30.4%±27.8
VT: 48.4%
61.9%±65.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.2%
VT: 10.1%
6.3%
VT: 10.1%
0.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.5%
VT: 73.2%
88.9%
VT: 73.2%
87.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1976
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
21% above VT
23 minLowest
about the VT average
37 minHighest
55% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
15%±3.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
24.4%±6.6
VT: 16.9%
Brookfield and Cornwall 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 Strafford School District Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.