Compare towns
Cornwall vs Bennington vs Strafford vs North Hero
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
North Hero has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.9%).
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.
| Measure | Cornwall | Bennington | Strafford | North Hero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
15,249Highest |
1,372 |
1,263 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
54.2±6.7Highest 26% above VT |
| North Hero and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| North Hero and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
47.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.5%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and North Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$102,143±$24k 26% 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 | $458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$451,400±$66k 43% above VT |
| Cornwall and North Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,556±$360Highest 26% above VT |
| North Hero and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,726 33% above VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,132 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±98.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
15.4%±8.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Strafford School District | Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— | — |
| 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.