Compare towns
Chittenden vs Dummerston 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
Chittenden has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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.
| Measure | Chittenden | Dummerston | Strafford | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318 |
2,090Highest |
1,372 |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above 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 | 13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$100,524±$23kLowest 24% above VT |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% 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 | $1,125±$488Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 6% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | None 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.