Compare towns
Cornwall vs Dummerston vs Wardsboro vs Middlebury
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).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Wardsboro has the most affordable homes ($299k median).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
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 | Dummerston | Wardsboro | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
2,090 |
820Lowest |
7,220Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
| Wardsboro 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Wardsboro 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$86,250±$18k 6% above VT |
| Cornwall and Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
$417,400±$31k 32% above VT |
| Cornwall and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,201±$120 about the VT average |
| Wardsboro and Dummerston 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$6,795Highest 35% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Middlebury 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% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
21 min 11% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.