Compare towns
Waterville vs Strafford vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Waterville | Strafford | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,372Highest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Lowest 14% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% 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 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% 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 | $236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% 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 | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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 |
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.