Compare towns
Strafford vs Brattleboro vs Warren 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 most kids (23% under 18).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Brattleboro | Warren | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
12,122Highest |
1,585 |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
45.6±4.5Lowest 6% above VT |
53.1±4.2 23% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.1%±4.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Warren 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% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Brattleboro 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 |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$86,905±$16k 7% 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 | $431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
$569,300±$123kHighest 80% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
| Warren and Strafford 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 |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,750±$394Highest 42% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Warren and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 42% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
$7,284Highest 45% above VT |
$5,342Lowest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
32.3%±26.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Brattleboro 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% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
15.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest about the VT average |
19 min 19% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
36.2%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Warren and Mendon 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 | — | #33 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.