Compare towns
Cornwall vs Dorset vs Peru 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 homeowners (94.3%).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Dorset | Peru | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
2,092Highest |
434Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
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%±3 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset 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% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon 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% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cornwall and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32k 41% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$100,524±$23kLowest 24% above VT |
| Peru and Cornwall 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 |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$357,000±$44kLowest 13% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Dorset and Peru 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 |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Dorset 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 min 8% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | — |
| High school 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.