Compare towns
Mendon vs Strafford vs Wayne vs North Hero
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 the most people working from home (22.5%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Wayne has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
North Hero has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.9%).
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 | Strafford | Wayne | North Hero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
1,372Highest |
1,033Lowest |
1,263 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Lowest 32% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
54.2±6.7 39% above U.S. |
| Wayne and North Hero 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% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and North Hero 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Hero 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 25% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$90,938±$17kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$102,143±$24k 27% above U.S. |
| Strafford and North Hero 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. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$266,700±$150kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$451,400±$66kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| North Hero 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 13% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,031±$304Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,556±$360Highest 10% above U.S. |
| North Hero and Mendon 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,967Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,132 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±98.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and North Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Strafford School District | — | Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.