Compare towns
Strafford vs Tunbridge vs White River Junction 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).
Tunbridge has the most people working from home (25.8%).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Mendon has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
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 | Tunbridge | White River Junction | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,253 |
3,364Highest |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below 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% |
21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Tunbridge 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% |
20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Tunbridge 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 |
$89,464±$26k 10% above VT |
$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
| 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 36% above VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% 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 |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Tunbridge 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 |
$4,645Lowest 8% below VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Tunbridge 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
17 min 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.