Compare towns
Mendon vs Putney vs Wolfeboro vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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 | Putney | Wolfeboro | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113Lowest |
2,622 |
6,571Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| 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 7% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342 71% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Mendon 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.