Compare towns
Strafford vs Mendon vs Thetford
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 the most people working from home (22.5%).
Thetford has the youngest population (median age 43.6).
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 | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,113Lowest |
2,813Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
43.6±6.2Lowest 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Thetford 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% |
20.8%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
68%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Thetford and Strafford 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 |
$88,045±$16kLowest 8% 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 |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$329,500±$96kLowest 4% 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±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,141±$96 8% below VT |
| Mendon and Thetford 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 |
$6,948 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.7%±30.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Thetford 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% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest 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 | — | — | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Strafford School District | — | Thetford 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.