Compare towns
Mendon vs Strafford vs Sullivan vs Cornwall
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
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 | Strafford | Sullivan | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113Lowest |
1,372 |
14,690Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
45±2.1Lowest 16% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Sullivan 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 25% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$80,948±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| 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 7% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$194,100±$12kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| 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 13% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$863±$135Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,125±$206 20% below U.S. |
| 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 71% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,542Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | #87 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | Strafford School District | CHITTENANGO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | CHITTENANGO HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.



