Compare towns
Cornwall vs Chester vs Windham vs Mendon
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).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Chester | Windham | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
2,992Highest |
594Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall and Windham 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Mendon 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% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Chester 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 |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
| Cornwall and Mendon 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 |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
— | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Mendon 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.