Compare towns
Warren vs Mendon vs Bridgewater vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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 | Warren | Mendon | Bridgewater | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,585Highest |
1,113 |
980Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.2 23% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,905±$16k 7% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below 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 | $569,300±$123kHighest 80% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Warren and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$394Highest 42% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Warren and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,284Highest 45% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$7,149 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.3%±26.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 21% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 36.2%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Warren and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — | — | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.