Compare towns
Strafford vs Manchester 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).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Cornwall has the most homeowners (94.3%).
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 | Manchester | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
4,486Highest |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
50.4±4.6Lowest 17% above VT |
| Manchester 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% |
16.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 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% |
25.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% VT: 43.8% |
47.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Manchester 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 |
$94,886±$23kLowest 17% 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±$40kLowest 36% above VT |
$454,600±$47k 44% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
| Cornwall and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,923Lowest 18% above VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Manchester 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% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Manchester 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 | — | #37 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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 Our Story | 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.