Compare towns
Strafford vs Oakham vs Mendon vs Tunbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Tunbridge has the most people working from home (25.8%).
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 | Oakham | Mendon | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,639Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,253 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
42.7±8.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Tunbridge 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% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Oakham 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 37% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$89,464±$26kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$315,300±$23kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,346±$128Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Tunbridge and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$4,645 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Tunbridge 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Tunbridge 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 | Quabbin | — | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| 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 |
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.