Compare towns
Strafford vs Chelsea 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 expensive homes ($431k median).
Chelsea has the most affordable homes ($261k 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 | Chelsea | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Highest |
1,223 |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Mendon 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% |
21.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Chelsea 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% |
29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Chelsea 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 |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% 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 |
$260,900±$39kLowest 18% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above 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±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Chelsea 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 |
$3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Chelsea 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% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Strafford School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.