Compare towns
Thetford vs Cornwall vs Mendon vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Cornwall has the highest household income ($115k).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Thetford | Cornwall | Mendon | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,813Highest |
1,208 |
1,113Lowest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
| Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
63.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Thetford and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,045±$16k 8% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
| Cornwall and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,500±$96kLowest 4% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
| Cornwall and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96 8% below VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
| Mendon and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,948Highest 38% above VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
$5,342Lowest 6% above VT |
$6,208 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Lowest 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 | 8% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 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 | #40 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Thetford School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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.