Compare towns
Strafford vs Rowe vs Mendon
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 expensive homes ($431k median).
Rowe has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Rowe | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Highest |
453Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
48.9±6.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% 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% |
23%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rowe and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Rowe 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. |
$69,583±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
| 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 30% above U.S. |
$275,000±$41kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
| 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 20% below U.S. |
$1,313±$576Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
| Rowe 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. |
$1,458Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Strafford School District | Rowe | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.