Compare towns
Stratton vs Rochester vs Mendon
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).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Stratton | Rochester | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532Lowest |
1,389Highest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Rochester 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Mendon and Stratton 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 |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above 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 |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above 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 |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| 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 |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Rochester 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.