Compare towns
Brandon vs Mendon vs Strafford vs Chittenden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Chittenden has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Brandon | Mendon | Strafford | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,372 |
1,318 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Lowest 16% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
50.8±6.3 18% 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 | 19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
51.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$346,800±$35k 10% 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 | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,125±$488 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 | $4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,346 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest 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 | 14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Strafford 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | Strafford School District | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.