Compare towns
Mendon vs Townshend 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).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Townshend | Dover | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113Lowest |
1,538Highest |
1,466 |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above VT |
| Townshend and Dover 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% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Mendon 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% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest 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% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest 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 |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Mendon 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 |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Mendon 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 |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Mendon and Strafford 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 |
$5,364 6% above 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% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Townshend 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
— | — |
| 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.