Compare towns
Strafford vs Barton vs Mendon vs Vershire
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 most expensive homes ($431k median).
Barton has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Barton | Mendon | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372Highest |
730Lowest |
1,113 |
842 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
45.7±9.3 6% 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% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton 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% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
31.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Vershire and Strafford 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 |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$71,618±$12k 12% below 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 |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$209,100±$55k 34% 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 | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,117±$80 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 | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,640 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±24.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
19.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Barton 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | — | — | — |
| High school 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.