Compare towns
Highgate vs Strafford 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).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Highgate | Strafford | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,372 |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% 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 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 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+ | 22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Highgate 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% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 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 | $81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% 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 | $280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% 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 | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | 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.