Compare towns
Mendon vs Peru vs Rupert 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).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Peru | Rupert | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
434Lowest |
676 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Rupert 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 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% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Mendon 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 |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$88,229±$36kLowest 9% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| Peru 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 |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Peru 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 |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Peru 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 |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,594Lowest 9% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | Strafford School District |
| High school 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.