Compare towns

Cornwall vs Brookfield vs Reading 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 expensive homes ($458k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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.

MeasureCornwallBrookfieldReadingStrafford
People
Population
1,208
1,486Highest
699Lowest
1,372
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.4±4.6
17% above VT
47±5.9Lowest
9% above VT
51.1±7.6
19% above VT
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
Strafford and Reading 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%
18.8%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23%±5.2Highest
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+
25.7%±6.1
VT: 21.4%
29.7%±6.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Brookfield and Reading 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%
45.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46%
VT: 43.8%
53.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.1
VT: 7%
3.2%±2.4
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
Strafford and Cornwall 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
$98,500±$23k
21% above VT
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% 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
$339,300±$15kLowest
7% above VT
$377,200±$72k
19% 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
$1,125±$206Highest
9% below VT
$975±$306Lowest
21% below VT
$1,100±$331
11% below VT
$1,125±$789Highest
9% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,726
33% above VT
$4,560Lowest
10% below VT
$5,754
14% above VT
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±65.5
VT: 48.4%
30.4%±27.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48
VT: 48.4%
Reading 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%
6.3%
VT: 10.1%
8.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
87.9%
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
same as VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
37 minHighest
55% above VT
33 min
41% above VT
23 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
24.4%±6.6
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3Lowest
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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 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.