Compare towns
Cabot vs Mendon vs Strafford vs Walden
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).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k 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 | Mendon | Strafford | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,579Highest |
1,113 |
1,372 |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% 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% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,031±$16kLowest 5% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% 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 |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% 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 | $1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% 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 |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±26.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 27% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Strafford School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.