Compare towns
Strafford vs Chester vs Mendon vs Tunbridge
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).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Tunbridge has the most people working from home (25.8%).
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 | Chester | Mendon | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
2,992Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,253 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
42.7±8.3Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Tunbridge 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$89,464±$26k 10% 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 |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
| 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 |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
| Tunbridge 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 |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,645 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Tunbridge 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.