Compare towns
Chittenden vs Pendleton vs Strafford vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chittenden has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Pendleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Pendleton | Strafford | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318 |
7,034Highest |
1,372 |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
46.7±4.1Lowest 20% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Pendleton 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 32% above U.S. |
$113,750±$27kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Pendleton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35k 4% above U.S. |
$294,300±$39kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
| 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 20% below U.S. |
$994±$119Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
| 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 71% above U.S. |
$6,623 112% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,342Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.6%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Pendleton 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 | — | #67 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.