Compare towns
Cornwall vs Dorset vs Middlebury 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 homeowners (94.3%).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Dorset | Middlebury | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
2,092 |
7,220Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
+10.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Cornwall 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% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
61.9% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$86,250±$18kLowest 6% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| Cornwall and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,000±$49k 45% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$417,400±$31kLowest 32% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,201±$120 about the VT average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Dorset and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,726Lowest 33% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,795 35% above VT |
$7,149 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset 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% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
22 min 8% below VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Cornwall 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 | — | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Strafford School District |
| High school 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.