Compare towns
Cornwall vs Essex Junction 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 people working from home (24.4%).
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
10,803Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+14.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
39.3±3.1Lowest 9% 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%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Essex Junction 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% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Essex Junction 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 |
$89,257±$16kLowest 10% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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±$20kLowest 29% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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 |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,726Lowest 33% above VT |
$6,797 35% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Essex Junction 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Essex Junction 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 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.