Compare towns
Athens vs Mendon vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Athens | Mendon | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,113 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Mendon and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 8% above VT |
$5,342Lowest 6% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.