Compare towns

Middlebury vs Ira 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 the youngest population (median age 31.8).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Cornwall has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
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.

MeasureMiddleburyIraCornwall
People
Population
9,175Highest
381Lowest
1,208
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
+1.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
31.8±3.7Lowest
26% below VT
54.1±5.5Highest
26% above VT
50.4±4.6
17% above VT
Ira and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.6%±1.9
VT: 17.9%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.7%±3Highest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
20.7%±2.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.9%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
25.7%±6.1
VT: 21.4%
Ira and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
37.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
32.6%±1.1Highest
VT: 7%
3.4%±3.5Lowest
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.1
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,169±$16k
6% above VT
$71,827±$5kLowest
12% 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
$409,700±$30k
29% above VT
$272,900±$18kLowest
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
$1,156±$113Highest
6% below VT
$942±$52Lowest
24% below VT
$1,125±$206
9% below VT
Middlebury and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,868Highest
36% above VT
$4,146Lowest
18% below VT
$6,726
33% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.9%±14.4
VT: 48.4%
36.4%±100Lowest
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
10.7%
VT: 10.1%
14.4%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
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1976Highest
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
16 minLowest
33% below VT
28 minHighest
20% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
18.8%±4.1
VT: 16.9%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
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 Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town Middlebury Union High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.6
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.