Compare towns
Mendon vs Heath vs Strafford vs Chittenden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Chittenden has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Heath | Strafford | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
765Lowest |
1,372Highest |
1,318 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
50.8±6.3Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Heath and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Chittenden 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 25% above U.S. |
$98,750±$23kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$106,250±$28k 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$295,000±$45kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$346,800±$35k 4% above 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 | $1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
— | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,125±$488Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342 71% above U.S. |
$4,438Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,346 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Strafford School District | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.