Compare towns
Strafford vs Barnard vs Whitingham vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Strafford | Barnard | Whitingham | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372Highest |
1,211 |
1,368 |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
46.4±7.1 8% 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 | 23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 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 | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below 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 | $431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
| Strafford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Barnard and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
$5,055Lowest about the VT average |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
29 min 21% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Strafford School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.