Compare towns
Stratton vs Mendon vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Stratton | Mendon | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532Lowest |
1,113 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Mendon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Stratton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Stratton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Mendon and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750 6% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Chester 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | — | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.