Compare towns
Cornwall vs Putney vs Dorset
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 oldest population (median age 50.4).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Putney | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
2,622Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Cornwall and Dorset 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Dorset 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% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
| Cornwall and Dorset 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 |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset 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 |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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 |
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.