Compare towns
Stratton vs Cornwall vs Highgate vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Stratton | Cornwall | Highgate | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Lowest |
1,208 |
3,528Highest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cornwall and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$114,583±$32k 41% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Stratton and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Cornwall and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750 6% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
0.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Highgate 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 | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.