Compare towns
Cabot vs Castleton vs Mendon vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Cabot | Castleton | Mendon | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,579 |
4,453Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.3±6.6 6% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% 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 | 27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% 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 | $268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% 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 | $1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Cabot and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,639 8% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±26.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 27% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 21.4%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Cabot 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | 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.