Compare towns

Cornwall vs Sharon vs West Fairlee 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).
Sharon has the most renters (20.3% rent).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

MeasureCornwallSharonWest FairleeMendon
People
Population
1,208
1,577Highest
711Lowest
1,113
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+3.9%
VT: +2.8%
-4.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+8.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.4±4.6
17% above VT
45.6±7.7Lowest
6% above VT
50.3±7.6
17% above 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%±5Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.5%±5.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
Sharon 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%
25.1%±3.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.7%±6.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
29%±1.3
VT: 21.4%
West Fairlee and Mendon 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%
37.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
44.6%
VT: 43.8%
49.4%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.1Highest
VT: 7%
1.5%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.1
VT: 7%
Cornwall and Mendon 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
$84,375±$17k
4% above VT
$76,500±$16kLowest
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
$346,700±$37k
10% above VT
$237,200±$35kLowest
25% below VT
$357,000±$44k
13% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$206
9% below VT
$1,386±$155Highest
12% above VT
$1,113±$171Lowest
10% below VT
$1,230±$651
about the VT average
Sharon and Mendon 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
$5,903
17% above VT
$5,210Lowest
3% above VT
$5,342
6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±65.5
VT: 48.4%
19.8%±17.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
50%±89.6
VT: 48.4%
88.6%±42.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Mendon 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%
3%
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
8.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
79.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
91.9%
VT: 73.2%
92.2%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
same as VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
26 min
12% above VT
28 minHighest
20% above VT
17 minLowest
28% below VT
Work from home
24.4%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.7%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
5.5%±5.1Lowest
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 Sharon School District Rivendell Interstate 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.