Compare towns

Cornwall vs Stratton vs Middlebury 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 people working from home (24.4%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureCornwallStrattonMiddleburyStrafford
People
Population
1,208
532Lowest
7,220Highest
1,372
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
—
+10.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.4±4.6
17% above VT
31.5±4.1
27% below VT
23.7±1.3Lowest
45% below VT
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
Strafford 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%
28%±7.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
8.5%±1.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23%±5.2
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%±6.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
11.7%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
19.8%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
Cornwall and Strafford 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%
33.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
61.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
53.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.1
VT: 7%
1.3%±2.8Lowest
VT: 7%
40.9%±2.3Highest
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$114,583±$32k
41% above VT
$122,708±$33kHighest
51% above VT
$86,250±$18kLowest
6% above VT
$110,833±$19k
36% 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
$400,000±$50kLowest
26% above VT
$417,400±$31k
32% 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±$206Lowest
9% below VT
$1,208±$979Highest
about the VT average
$1,201±$120
about the VT average
$1,125±$789Lowest
9% below VT
Stratton and Middlebury 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
$4,750Lowest
6% below VT
$6,795
35% above VT
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±65.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
12%±69.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
56.6%±15.8
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48
VT: 48.4%
Cornwall and Middlebury 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%
0%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
15.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
73.3%
VT: 73.2%
56.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
same as VT
1988Highest
12 yrs newer than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
33 minHighest
39% above VT
15 minLowest
38% below VT
23 min
about the VT average
Work from home
24.4%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
3.3%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
19.1%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
Cornwall and Middlebury 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 — — #17 of 70 in VT —
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 — — Strafford School District
High school 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.