Compare towns

Cornwall vs Mendon vs Norwich 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%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).

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.

MeasureCornwallMendonNorwichStrafford
People
Population
1,208
1,113Lowest
3,640Highest
1,372
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+8.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.4±4.6
17% above VT
53.4±10.5Highest
24% above VT
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% below VT
51.4±4.7
19% above VT
Mendon and Strafford 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%
14.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
24%±5.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
23%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
Norwich and Strafford 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%
29%±1.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
16%±3.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4
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%
49.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
81%Highest
VT: 43.8%
53.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.1
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
4.8%±2.4
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
Strafford and Norwich 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
41% above VT
$100,524±$23kLowest
24% above VT
$140,313±$12kHighest
73% above VT
$110,833±$19k
36% above VT
Norwich 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±$49k
45% above VT
$357,000±$44kLowest
13% above VT
$637,500±$76kHighest
101% above VT
$431,300±$40k
36% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$206Lowest
9% below VT
$1,230±$651
about the VT average
$1,460±$322Highest
18% above VT
$1,125±$789Lowest
9% below VT
Norwich and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,726
33% above VT
$5,342Lowest
6% above VT
$10,000+Highest
at least 98% above VT
$7,149
42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±65.5
VT: 48.4%
88.6%±42.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48
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%
8.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
2.8%
VT: 10.1%
5.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
92.2%
VT: 73.2%
71.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
same as VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
about the VT average
17 minLowest
28% below VT
19 min
19% below VT
23 min
about the VT average
Work from home
24.4%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±8.9
VT: 16.9%
21%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Cornwall and Mendon 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 — — #1 of 70 in VT —
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 — Norwich School District Strafford School District
High school in town None in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.