Compare towns
Cornwall vs Nelson vs Strafford 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
Cornwall has the highest household income ($115k).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Nelson | Strafford | North Hero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
648Lowest |
1,372Highest |
1,263 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
54.2±6.7Highest 39% above U.S. |
| North Hero 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hero 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Hero and Strafford 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 42% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$102,143±$24k 27% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$451,400±$66k 36% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and North Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,556±$360Highest 10% above U.S. |
| North Hero and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,726 116% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,132Lowest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±98.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and North Hero 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% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Nelson School District | Strafford School District | Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.