Compare towns
Strafford vs Middlesex vs Putney 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 expensive homes ($431k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Middlesex | Putney | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,943 |
2,622Highest |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
| Strafford and Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
| Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Putney 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Mendon 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.