Compare towns
Mendon vs Strafford vs Williston vs Worcester
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).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Strafford | Williston | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
1,372 |
10,144Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
47±2.7 9% 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%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Williston 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below 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 |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below 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 |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Williston 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
20 min 16% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Strafford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.