Compare towns

Burke vs Strafford vs Mendon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burke has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

MeasureBurkeStraffordMendon
People
Population
1,317
1,372Highest
1,113Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
+8.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
41.1±4.8Lowest
5% below VT
51.4±4.7
19% above VT
53.4±10.5Highest
24% 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
23%±4Highest
VT: 17.9%
23%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
21.7%±2.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
29%±1.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
49.4%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2.3
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Strafford and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$87,143±$17kLowest
7% above VT
$110,833±$19kHighest
36% above VT
$100,524±$23k
24% 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
$340,600±$18kLowest
8% above VT
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
$357,000±$44k
13% 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
$938±$191Lowest
24% below VT
$1,125±$789
9% below VT
$1,230±$651Highest
about the VT average
Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,177Lowest
about the VT average
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
$5,342
6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.6%±31
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48Lowest
VT: 48.4%
88.6%±42.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Mendon and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%
VT: 73.2%
92.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1977Lowest
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minHighest
8% above VT
23 min
about the VT average
17 minLowest
28% below VT
Work from home
23.4%±6.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±8.9
VT: 16.9%
Burke and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 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

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.