Compare towns
Brighton vs Mendon vs Strafford vs Morgan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Morgan has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Brighton | Mendon | Strafford | Morgan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
1,113 |
1,372Highest |
827Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-14.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
40.9±6.4Lowest 5% below VT |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Morgan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.7%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Morgan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$91,250±$25k 12% 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 | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$311,300±$66k about the VT average |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,112±$64 10% 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 | $3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,426 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
0%±40.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Morgan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Brighton School District | — | Strafford School District | — |
| 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.