Compare towns
Cornwall vs Mendon vs Needham vs North Hero
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
North Hero has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.9%).
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 | Mendon | Needham | North Hero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,113Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,263 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
54.2±6.7Highest 39% above U.S. |
| North Hero and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and North Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Hero and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32k 42% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$102,143±$24k 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,000±$49k 38% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$451,400±$66k 36% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,556±$360 10% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,726 116% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,132Lowest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±98.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham 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 | — | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | — | Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.