Compare towns
Strafford vs Mendon vs Upton vs South Hero
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
South Hero has the most people working from home (26.3%).
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 | Upton | South Hero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,113Lowest |
8,189Highest |
1,586 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
51.5±4.8 32% above U.S. |
| 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 37% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$127,434±$15k 58% above U.S. |
| Upton and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$558,300±$46k 68% above U.S. |
| Upton and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,439±$221Highest about the U.S. average |
| South Hero and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 129% above U.S. |
$5,342Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,858 152% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.6%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Hero and Upton 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 | — | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | South Hero School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
U.S. 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.