Compare towns
Chittenden vs Strafford vs Vershire 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%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k 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 | Strafford | Vershire | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318 |
1,372Highest |
842Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
45.7±9.3Lowest 6% 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Vershire 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Vershire and Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$71,618±$12kLowest 12% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$209,100±$55kLowest 34% below 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±$488 9% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,117±$80Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,640Lowest 8% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±24.5 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Vershire 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest 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.