Compare towns
Cornwall vs Benson vs Whiting vs Strafford
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%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Whiting has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Benson | Whiting | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
784 |
532Lowest |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Benson 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% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Strafford 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% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson 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% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Whiting 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 |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% 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 | $458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below 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 | $1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Whiting and Cornwall 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 |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Whiting 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% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None 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.