Compare towns
Cornwall vs Plainfield vs Strafford vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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.
| Measure | Cornwall | Plainfield | Strafford | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,314 |
1,372Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
| Strafford 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 41% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| 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 45% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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 |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Plainfield and Cornwall 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Worcester 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 | — | Strafford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.