Compare towns
Mendon vs Putney vs Williston 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).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Putney | Williston | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113Lowest |
2,622 |
10,144Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Williston 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Williston 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 |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Williston 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 |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Williston 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.