Compare towns
Athens vs Stratton vs Mendon vs Westminster
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).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Stratton | Mendon | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
532 |
1,113 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster and Mendon 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Athens and Westminster 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Stratton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Mendon and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Westminster 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | — | — | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.