Compare towns
Dorset vs Mendon vs Strafford vs Tunbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Tunbridge has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
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 | Dorset | Mendon | Strafford | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,372 |
1,253 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
42.7±8.3Lowest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
42.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$89,464±$26kLowest 10% above VT |
| Dorset and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$315,300±$23kLowest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,346±$128 9% above VT |
| Dorset and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$7,149 42% above VT |
$4,645Lowest 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Strafford School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| 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.