Compare towns
Mendon vs Summit vs Strafford 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%).
Summit has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Summit | Strafford | North Hero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
976Lowest |
1,372Highest |
1,263 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
55.7±7.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Lowest 32% above U.S. |
54.2±6.7 39% above U.S. |
| Summit 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%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Summit 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% |
37.7%±8.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Summit 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 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. |
$74,375±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% 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. |
$150,000±$29kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above 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±$789Lowest 20% 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. |
$2,230Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,132 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 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% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 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.