Compare towns
Barton vs Mendon vs Stratton vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Barton | Mendon | Stratton | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
1,113Highest |
532Lowest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
| Mendon and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above 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 | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% 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 | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
| Mendon and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Barton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | — | — | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school 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.