Compare towns
Whitingham vs Mendon vs Strafford vs Leicester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Whitingham | Mendon | Strafford | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,368 |
1,113 |
1,372Highest |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-10%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
48.8±3.8 13% 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 | 19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$70,417±$30kLowest 13% below 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 | $262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$309,700±$107k about the VT average |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,098±$300 11% below VT |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,055 about the VT average |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,822Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 62% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±5.9 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | — | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | — | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.