Compare towns
Cornwall vs Rochester vs Strafford vs Stratton
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%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
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 | Rochester | Strafford | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,389Highest |
1,372 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below 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% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester 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% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32k 41% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Cornwall 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 |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% 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±$206 9% below VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
| Stratton 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 |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | None 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.