Compare towns
Warren vs Middlebury vs Cornwall vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 31.8).
Cornwall has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Warren | Middlebury | Cornwall | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,585 |
9,175Highest |
1,208Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.2Highest 23% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Warren and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±4.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Warren and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,905±$16k 7% above VT |
$86,169±$16kLowest 6% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,300±$123kHighest 80% above VT |
$409,700±$30kLowest 29% above VT |
$458,000±$49k 45% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Warren and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$394Highest 42% above VT |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,284Highest 45% above VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$6,726Lowest 33% above VT |
$7,149 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.3%±26.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 21% below VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 36.2%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| 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.