Compare towns
Chittenden vs Mendon vs Strafford vs Goshen
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 youngest population (median age 50.8).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Goshen has the oldest population (median age 58.9).
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 | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318 |
1,113 |
1,372Highest |
142Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3Lowest 18% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
58.9±8.3Highest 37% above VT |
| Goshen and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.6%±11.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Mendon 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% |
37.3%±11.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Goshen 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% |
42.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
0%±10Lowest 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 |
$56,250±$33kLowest 31% below 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 |
$330,000±$115kLowest 4% 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 |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% 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 |
$5,240Lowest 4% above 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% |
— |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Strafford 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 | — |
| 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.