Compare towns
Mendon vs Jay vs North Hero 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 the shortest commute (17 min average).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
North Hero has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.9%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Jay | North Hero | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
471Lowest |
1,263 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
54.2±6.7Highest 26% above VT |
51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above VT |
| North Hero 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 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and North Hero 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and North Hero 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% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.4% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.5%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| North Hero and Strafford 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 |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$102,143±$24k 26% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and North Hero 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$451,400±$66kHighest 43% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| North Hero 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 |
— | $1,556±$360Highest 26% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| North Hero 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,132 about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±98.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and North Hero 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
96.3% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.4%±8.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66 | Strafford School District |
| 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.