Compare towns
West Fairlee vs Cornwall vs Reading vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% 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 | West Fairlee | Cornwall | Reading | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 711 |
1,208 |
699Lowest |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 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+ | 29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% 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 | $237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$171 10% below VT |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,210Lowest 3% above VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Strafford School District |
| 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.