Compare towns
Cornwall vs West Fairlee vs Sharon 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).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Sharon has the most renters (20.3% rent).
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 | West Fairlee | Sharon | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
711Lowest |
1,577Highest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% 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% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest 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% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Lowest 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% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above 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 |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above 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 |
$5,210Lowest 3% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Sharon 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.