Compare towns
Middlebury vs Dorset 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 (+7.7%).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
Cornwall has the oldest population (median age 50.4).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% 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 | Dorset | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,175Highest |
2,092 |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
| Cornwall and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,169±$16kLowest 6% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
| Cornwall and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,700±$30kLowest 29% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$458,000±$49k 45% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,156±$113 6% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
| Dorset and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868 36% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,726Lowest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 33% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Cornwall 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 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Middlebury Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | — |
| 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.