Compare towns
Mendon vs Middlesex vs Wells 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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Middlesex | Wells | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,148 |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% 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 | 14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and Wells 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 |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Wells 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | 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.