Compare towns
Mendon vs Stratton vs Dover 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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Dover has the most affordable homes ($333k median).
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 | Stratton | Dover | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
532Lowest |
1,466Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Dover 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 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| Stratton and Strafford 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 |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$332,900±$55kLowest 5% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Stratton 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 |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Mendon and Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Strafford School District |
| High school 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.