Compare towns
Mendon vs Westminster vs Newfane 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).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Westminster | Newfane | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
497Lowest |
1,456Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Newfane 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane 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% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 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 |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% 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 |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$284,200±$49kLowest 10% below 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±$651 about the VT average |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Newfane 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 |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | 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.