Compare towns
Mendon vs Newfane 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%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Newfane | Westminster | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113Lowest |
1,456 |
2,999Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above VT |
| Newfane and Westminster 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% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Westminster 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% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane 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% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Mendon 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 |
$284,200±$49k 10% below 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 |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Newfane 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 |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Newfane 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% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% 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 |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Westminster 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 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | 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.