Compare towns
Brookline vs Mendon vs Strafford vs Hyde Park
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Brookline | Mendon | Strafford | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
1,113 |
1,372Highest |
513Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
42.6±10.1Lowest 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 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
16.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$89,946±$10k 11% 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 | $290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$221,800±$57kLowest 30% 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 | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,306±$285 6% above VT |
| Brookline and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,893Lowest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±47.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Brookline 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 | — | — | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| 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.