Compare towns
Cornwall vs Fair Haven vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Fair Haven | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208 |
2,724Highest |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson 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% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven 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% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson 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% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Fair Haven 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 |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Cornwall and Benson 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 |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Cornwall and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Benson 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% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Benson 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.