Compare towns
Thetford vs Mendon vs Cornwall vs Dorset
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).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Cornwall has the highest household income ($115k).
Dorset has the most kids (24% 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 | Mendon | Cornwall | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,813Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,208 |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset 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% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 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+ | 68% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Thetford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,045±$16kLowest 8% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
| Cornwall and Dorset 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 |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$458,000±$49k 45% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96 8% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,948 38% above VT |
$5,342Lowest 6% above VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Cornwall 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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.