Compare towns
Vernon vs Mendon vs Cornwall vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the most renters (23.8% rent).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k 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 | Vernon | Mendon | Cornwall | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,709 |
1,113Lowest |
1,208 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
44±7.4 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 | 15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest 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+ | 26.6% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cornwall and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
| Cornwall and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,191 3% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 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 | 5.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 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 | #30 of 70 in VT | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Vernon School District | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| 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.