Compare towns
Strafford vs Barnard vs Middlesex vs Cornwall
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k 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 | Strafford | Barnard | Middlesex | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,211 |
1,943Highest |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$97,581±$19kLowest 20% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
| Barnard and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,038Lowest 20% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Strafford School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.