Compare towns
Proctor vs Strafford vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Proctor | Strafford | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,794Highest |
1,372 |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% 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 | 21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% 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 | $209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% 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 | $1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest 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 | 16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.