Compare towns
Strafford vs Townsend vs Cornwall vs Chittenden
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).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Chittenden has the most affordable homes ($347k 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 | Townsend | Cornwall | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
9,100Highest |
1,208Lowest |
1,318 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Chittenden 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32k 42% above U.S. |
$106,250±$28kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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 30% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$346,800±$35kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Townsend 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. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,125±$488Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Strafford 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. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$5,346Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | North Middlesex | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— | — |
| 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.