Compare towns
Strafford vs Otis vs Mendon vs Cornwall
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Otis has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
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 | Otis | Mendon | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,624Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
51±3.2 31% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Cornwall 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 37% above U.S. |
$108,898±$6k 35% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| 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 30% above U.S. |
$396,700±$40k 19% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| 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 20% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Otis and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Strafford School District | Farmington River Reg | — | 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 |
U.S. 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.