Compare towns
Mendon vs Richmond vs Strafford vs Vershire
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%).
Richmond has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
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 | Richmond | Strafford | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
4,159Highest |
1,372 |
842Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
45.7±9.3 6% 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% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Richmond 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% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.4% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Vershire and Strafford 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 |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$71,618±$12kLowest 12% below VT |
| Strafford and Richmond 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 |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
| Richmond and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,117±$80Lowest 9% below VT |
| 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 6% above VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,640Lowest 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±24.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Vershire 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% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.