Compare towns

Highgate vs Mendon vs Cornwall

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).

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.

MeasureHighgateMendonCornwall
People
Population
3,528Highest
1,113Lowest
1,208
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+8.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
53.4±10.5Highest
24% above VT
50.4±4.6
17% 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
15.8%±5.3
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.7%±3Highest
VT: 17.9%
Cornwall and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.2%±5.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29%±1.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
25.7%±6.1
VT: 21.4%
Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
49.4%
VT: 43.8%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.1
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.1Highest
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
$81,017±$14kLowest
about the VT average
$100,524±$23k
24% above VT
$114,583±$32kHighest
41% 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
$280,500±$21kLowest
11% below VT
$357,000±$44k
13% above VT
$458,000±$49kHighest
45% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$895±$691Lowest
27% below VT
$1,230±$651Highest
about the VT average
$1,125±$206
9% below VT
Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,558Lowest
29% below VT
$5,342
6% above VT
$6,726Highest
33% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.5%±11.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
88.6%±42.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
61.9%±65.5
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
8.1%
VT: 10.1%
8.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
0.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.2%
VT: 73.2%
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1976Lowest
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
32% above VT
17 minLowest
28% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
14.9%±7.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±8.9
VT: 16.9%
24.4%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Cornwall and Mendon 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 #43 of 70 in VT — —
School district Missisquoi Valley School District #89 — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town Missisquoi Valley Union High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.