Compare towns
Strafford vs Westminster vs Sharon 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).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Sharon has the youngest population (median age 45.6).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Westminster | Sharon | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
2,999Highest |
1,577 |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
| Westminster 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% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Westminster 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% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Westminster 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 |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above 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 |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above 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±$789 9% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Sharon 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 |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Westminster 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% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Sharon School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— | — |
| 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.