Compare towns
South Hero vs Cornwall vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hero has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Cornwall has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
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 | South Hero | Cornwall | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,586 |
1,208Lowest |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| South Hero and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| South Hero and Cornwall 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% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT |
$114,583±$32k 41% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| South Hero and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT |
$458,000±$49k 45% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$221Highest 17% above VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| South Hero and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,858Highest 56% above VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.6%±21Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 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 | 3.5% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 4% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| South Hero 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | South Hero School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.