Compare towns
Cornwall vs Rochester vs Ripton 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 expensive homes ($458k median).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Rochester | Ripton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,389Highest |
508Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Rochester 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest 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%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Ripton 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% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| Cornwall and Ripton 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 |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above 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±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
— | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,726 33% above VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District |
| 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 |
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.