Compare towns
Strafford vs Castleton 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).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Castleton | Mendon | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
4,453Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
| Mendon and Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% 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% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
19 min 17% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | 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.