Compare towns
Middlebury vs Putney vs Sharon 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%).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
Cornwall has the highest household income ($115k).
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 | Putney | Sharon | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,175Highest |
2,622 |
1,577 |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
| Cornwall and Sharon 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Sharon 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$84,375±$17k 4% above 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 |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above 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±$113 6% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
| Sharon and Middlebury 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 |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 33% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Sharon School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Middlebury Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.