Compare towns
Belvidere vs Mendon vs Strafford vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belvidere has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Waterville has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Belvidere | Mendon | Strafford | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 422Lowest |
1,113 |
1,372Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% 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 | 22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$18k about the VT average |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below 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 | $239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Belvidere and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±53.8 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Strafford School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school 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.