Compare towns
Mendon vs Mount Tabor vs Ripton 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 most people working from home (22.5%).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Ripton has the youngest population (median age 47.7).
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 | Mount Tabor | Ripton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
304Lowest |
508 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Mount Tabor 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% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Ripton 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% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23kLowest 24% above VT |
— | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,000±$44kLowest 13% above VT |
$420,500±$76k 33% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Mount Tabor 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 |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
— | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Mount Tabor 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 |
$5,233 4% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Ripton 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% |
11%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District |
| High school 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.