Compare towns
Strafford vs Mendon vs Middlebury 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).
Mendon has the most affordable homes ($357k median).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 23.7).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mendon | Middlebury | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,113Lowest |
7,220Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+10.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below 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% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest 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%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest 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% |
49.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$86,250±$18kLowest 6% 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 |
$357,000±$44kLowest 13% above VT |
$417,400±$31k 32% 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 |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,201±$120 about the VT average |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
| Mendon and Middlebury 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 |
$5,342Lowest 6% above VT |
$6,795 35% above VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr 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 |
17 min 28% below VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4 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 | — | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| 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 | 6 photos → | 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.