Compare towns
Cornwall vs Strafford 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 people working from home (24.4%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Cornwall | Strafford | West Fairlee | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,372Highest |
711Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
| Mendon 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 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±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above 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 |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% 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 |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% 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% |
44.6%±48Lowest 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1980Highest 4 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 |
23 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 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 | Strafford 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.