Compare towns
Strafford vs Castleton 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).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k 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 | Strafford | Castleton | Mendon | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
4,453Highest |
1,113 |
842Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Vershire 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$71,618±$12kLowest 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 |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$209,100±$55kLowest 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,117±$80Lowest 9% below VT |
| Mendon and Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 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% |
67.7%±21.9 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%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 |
1974Lowest 2 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 |
19 min 17% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Strafford 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — |
| 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.