Compare towns
Hampton vs Strafford vs Mendon vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Fair Haven has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
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 | Hampton | Strafford | Mendon | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145 |
1,372 |
1,113Lowest |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below 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 | $1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Strafford 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 | — | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Strafford School District | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.