Compare towns
Leicester vs Strafford vs Mendon vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k 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 | Leicester | Strafford | Mendon | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,372Highest |
1,113 |
790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.8 13% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% 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 | 14.9%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$30kLowest 13% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,700±$107k about the VT average |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,098±$300Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
— |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 24% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 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 | 11.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest 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 | — | Strafford School District | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.