Compare towns
Strafford vs Braintree vs Cornwall vs Mendon
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).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Braintree | Cornwall | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372Highest |
1,026Lowest |
1,208 |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
50.4±4.6Lowest 17% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
| Braintree and Mendon 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% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Mendon 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% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 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 |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% 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 |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% 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±$789 9% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Strafford 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 |
$6,726 33% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Cornwall 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% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school 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.