Compare towns
Cornwall vs Halifax vs Mendon vs Williston
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).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Halifax | Mendon | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
847Lowest |
1,113 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Williston 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% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Cornwall and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,000±$49k 45% above VT |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Cornwall 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 |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Williston and Mendon 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 |
$4,991Lowest about the VT average |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | — | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Halifax School District | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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 | 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.