Compare towns
Mendon vs Jay 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
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Mendon | Jay | Strafford | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
471Lowest |
1,372Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
50.4±4.6Lowest 17% above VT |
| Mendon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest 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+ | 29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 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+ | 49.4% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest 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 | $100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$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 | $357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% 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 | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342 6% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 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 | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Strafford School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.