Compare towns
Strafford vs Norwich 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
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k 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 | Norwich | Mendon | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
3,640Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% 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%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Strafford 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% |
16%±3.4Lowest 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% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Norwich 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 |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$100,524±$23kLowest 24% above VT |
$114,583±$32k 41% above VT |
| Norwich 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 |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$357,000±$44kLowest 13% above VT |
$458,000±$49k 45% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
| Norwich and Mendon 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$5,342Lowest 6% above VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest 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% |
2.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs 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 |
19 min 19% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Norwich School District | — | 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 | 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.