Compare towns
Strafford vs Sheldon vs Andover 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).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Sheldon | Andover | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
2,267Highest |
616Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above 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%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Strafford 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Mendon 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 |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
| Strafford and Andover 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 |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
| Strafford and Andover 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 |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Andover and Sheldon 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Andover 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | — |
| 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.