Compare towns
Mendon vs Dummerston vs Westminster vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Dummerston has the youngest population (median age 45.6).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Mendon | Dummerston | Westminster | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113Lowest |
2,090 |
2,999Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Westminster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Westminster 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Westminster 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 |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below 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 | $1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Dummerston 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.