Compare towns
Cornwall vs Orwell vs Hancock 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).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
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 | Orwell | Hancock | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,294Highest |
435Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below 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% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell 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% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
| Cornwall and Mendon 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 |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$939±$19Lowest 24% 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 |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Orwell 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% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 min 15% above VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Mendon 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — |
| High school 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.