Compare towns
Cornwall vs Essex Junction 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 highest household income ($115k).
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Mendon has the most affordable homes ($357k median).
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 | Essex Junction | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208 |
10,803Highest |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+14.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below 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% |
19.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Essex Junction 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% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.4% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Essex Junction 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 |
$89,257±$16kLowest 10% 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 |
$407,500±$20k 29% above VT |
$357,000±$44kLowest 13% above VT |
| Cornwall and Essex Junction 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 |
$1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Essex Junction and Mendon 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 |
$6,797Highest 35% above VT |
$5,342Lowest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5Lowest 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% |
9.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
19 min 18% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4Lowest 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 | — | #14 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.