Compare towns
Strafford vs Stoneham vs Mendon vs Vershire
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).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
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 | Stoneham | Mendon | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
23,355Highest |
1,113 |
842Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
45.7±9.3 17% 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% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Stoneham 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% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Vershire and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$71,618±$12kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Stoneham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$209,100±$55kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,117±$80Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$4,640Lowest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Vershire 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% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham 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 | — | #117 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Stoneham | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Stoneham High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.