Compare towns
Waterville vs Strafford vs Cornwall vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the youngest population (median age 49.1).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Waterville | Strafford | Cornwall | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,372Highest |
1,208 |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Lowest 14% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below 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 | $236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Strafford School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.