Compare towns
Bloomfield vs Mendon vs Strafford vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bloomfield has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
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 | Bloomfield | Mendon | Strafford | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 234Lowest |
1,113 |
1,372Highest |
470 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 41.9±12Lowest about the VT average |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
42.4±8.8 about the VT average |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±14.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Bloomfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±8 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,375±$17kLowest 33% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$84,375±$20k 4% 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 | $190,600±$63k 40% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$178,300±$31kLowest 44% 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 | — | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,125±$79Lowest 9% below VT |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,800Lowest 44% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,269 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 4.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Marshfield 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 | 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.