Compare towns
Roxbury vs Strafford vs Mendon vs Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Roxbury has the most kids (30.6% under 18).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k 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 | Roxbury | Strafford | Mendon | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 942Lowest |
1,372Highest |
1,113 |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 35.6±11.7Lowest 17% below VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Braintree and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 30.6%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Roxbury and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest 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 | $73,214±$22kLowest 10% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,600±$55k 23% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$495 23% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$840±$405Lowest 32% 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 | $4,284 15% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 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 | 27.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.2%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Strafford School District | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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.