Compare towns
Strafford vs Cornwall vs Thetford vs South Hero
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).
Cornwall has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
South Hero has the most expensive homes ($558k 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 | Cornwall | Thetford | South Hero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,208Lowest |
2,813Highest |
1,586 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+7.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average |
51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT |
| South Hero 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% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
14.8%±3.3Lowest 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%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.5%±2.5Highest 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+ | 53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
68%Highest VT: 43.8% |
61.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Thetford 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 |
$114,583±$32k 41% above VT |
$88,045±$16kLowest 8% above VT |
$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT |
| 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 | $431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$458,000±$49k 45% above VT |
$329,500±$96kLowest 4% above VT |
$558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,141±$96 8% below VT |
$1,439±$221Highest 17% above VT |
| South Hero and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 42% above VT |
$6,726Lowest 33% above VT |
$6,948 38% above VT |
$7,858Highest 56% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.7%±30.1 VT: 48.4% |
32.6%±21Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Thetford 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% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
24 minHighest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.3%±8.3Highest 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 | — | — | #40 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Thetford School District | South Hero School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.