Compare towns
Middlebury vs Sheldon vs Cornwall
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Cornwall has the highest household income ($115k).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Sheldon | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,220Highest |
2,267 |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,250±$18k 6% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
| Cornwall and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $417,400±$31k 32% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
| Cornwall and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,201±$120 about the VT average |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
| Sheldon and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,795Highest 35% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 38% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Middlebury 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.