Compare towns
Mendon vs Sheldon vs Salisbury 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 most people working from home (22.5%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Salisbury has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Sheldon | Salisbury | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,200 |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
50.6±6.5 17% 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Strafford 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above 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 |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% 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 |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Salisbury and Sheldon 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
19 min 20% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.