Compare towns
Strafford vs Middlebury vs Mendon
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).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 23.7).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
7,220Highest |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% 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% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Mendon 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% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$86,250±$18kLowest 6% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% 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 |
$417,400±$31k 32% above VT |
$357,000±$44kLowest 13% above VT |
| Strafford and Middlebury 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 |
$1,201±$120 about the VT average |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Middlebury 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 |
$6,795 35% above VT |
$5,342Lowest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Middlebury 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% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest about the VT average |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
17 min 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Middlebury 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | — | — |
| High school 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.