Compare towns
Mendon vs Stratton vs Middlesex 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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
532Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 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%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.4% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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±$23kLowest 24% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above 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±$44kLowest 13% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% 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±$651 about the VT average |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 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 |
27 min 17% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.