Compare towns
Cornwall vs Dorset vs Strafford vs North Hero
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 highest household income ($115k).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($431k median).
North Hero has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.9%).
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 | Strafford | North Hero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
2,092Highest |
1,372 |
1,263 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
54.2±6.7Highest 26% above VT |
| North Hero 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% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±4.1Lowest 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%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| North Hero 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% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
47.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.5%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| North Hero and Strafford 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 |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$102,143±$24kLowest 26% 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 |
$431,300±$40kLowest 36% above VT |
$451,400±$66k 43% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,556±$360Highest 26% above VT |
| North Hero and Dorset 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 |
$7,149 42% above VT |
$5,132Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±98.1 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
15.4%±8.8Lowest 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 | Strafford School District | Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66 |
| High school in town | None 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.