Compare towns
Strafford vs Sutton vs Williston 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 kids (23% under 18).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Sutton | Williston | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
790Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Williston 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% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
| Strafford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
| Williston and Strafford 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 |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Williston and Mendon 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 |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Williston 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% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| 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 |
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.