Compare towns
Thetford vs Mendon vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thetford has the youngest population (median age 43.6).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Thetford | Mendon | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,813Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% 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 | 15.4%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Thetford and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,045±$16kLowest 8% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% 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 | $329,500±$96kLowest 4% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% 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 | $1,141±$96 8% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Mendon and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,948 38% above VT |
$5,342Lowest 6% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Strafford 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 | #40 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Thetford School District | — | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.