Compare towns
Strafford vs Sandgate vs Mendon vs Chittenden
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).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Chittenden has the youngest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Sandgate | Mendon | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372Highest |
435Lowest |
1,113 |
1,318 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
50.8±6.3Lowest 18% above VT |
| Sandgate and Mendon 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% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5 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% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Sandgate 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 VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
51.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Chittenden 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 36% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
| Strafford and Chittenden 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 |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
| 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 9% below VT |
— | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$488Lowest 9% below VT |
| Mendon and Strafford 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 |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$5,346 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
93.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate 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 | — | — | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school 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.