Compare towns
Mendon vs Benson vs Strafford vs Killington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the most homeowners (92.2%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Killington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+73.5%).
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 | Mendon | Benson | Strafford | Killington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
784Lowest |
1,372Highest |
785 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+73.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above VT |
52.8±4.2 23% above VT |
| Mendon and Killington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
21%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.4% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
57.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.5%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Killington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$81,250±$39k about the VT average |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$488,400±$85kHighest 54% above VT |
| Killington and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,286±$483Highest 4% above VT |
| Killington and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342 6% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,827 35% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±25.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
74.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 28% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.7%±10.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Killington and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Strafford School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.