Compare towns
Strafford vs Belvidere vs Mendon 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 most kids (23% under 18).
Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
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 | Belvidere | Mendon | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372Highest |
422Lowest |
1,113 |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Belvidere 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% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Cornwall 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 |
$81,563±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$100,524±$23k 24% 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 |
$239,200±$51kLowest 24% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% 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 |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
| Belvidere and Mendon 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 |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Strafford School District | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school 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.