Compare towns
Lowell vs Mendon vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Lowell | Mendon | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070Lowest |
1,113 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% 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 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest 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 | $57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above 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 | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% 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 | $945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 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 | 9.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 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 | Lowell School District | — | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.