Compare towns
Strafford vs Mendon vs South Hero
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).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
South Hero has the most expensive homes ($558k 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 | Mendon | South Hero |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,113Lowest |
1,586Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.5±4.8 19% above VT |
| Mendon and South Hero 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%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.8%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and South Hero 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%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and South Hero 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% |
49.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$100,524±$23kLowest 24% above VT |
$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT |
| South Hero and Strafford 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 |
$357,000±$44kLowest 13% above VT |
$558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,439±$221Highest 17% above VT |
| South Hero 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 |
$5,342Lowest 6% above VT |
$7,858Highest 56% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.6%±21Lowest 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% |
3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 minHighest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| South Hero and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Strafford School District | — | South Hero School District |
| 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.