Compare towns
Strafford vs Mendon vs Chittenden vs Sharon
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).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Chittenden has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Sharon has the most renters (20.3% rent).
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 | Mendon | Chittenden | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,113Lowest |
1,318 |
1,577Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 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% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Sharon 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%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Sharon 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% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
51.5% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Chittenden 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 |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
$84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
| Strafford and Chittenden 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 |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
$346,700±$37kLowest 10% 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 |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,125±$488Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon 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 |
$5,342Lowest 6% above VT |
$5,346 6% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.