Compare towns
Cornwall vs Fairfax vs Ripton 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 most expensive homes ($458k median).
Fairfax has the most kids (24% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Fairfax | Ripton | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
5,226Highest |
508Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above 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% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax 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% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Mendon 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% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32k 41% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$100,524±$23kLowest 24% above VT |
| Fairfax and Cornwall 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 |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$357,000±$44kLowest 13% above VT |
| Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
— | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Cornwall 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 |
$5,497 9% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Fairfax School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.