Compare towns
Chittenden vs Mendon vs Strafford vs Brookfield
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%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Mendon | Strafford | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318 |
1,113Lowest |
1,372 |
1,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
47±5.9Lowest 9% 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% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Brookfield 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% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 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 |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$98,500±$23kLowest 21% 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 |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$339,300±$15kLowest 7% 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±$488 9% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
| Mendon and Chittenden 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 |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 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% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | — | Strafford School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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.