Compare towns
Addison vs Benson vs Mendon vs Shoreham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the highest household income ($107k).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Shoreham has the youngest population (median age 51.8).
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 | Addison | Benson | Mendon | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,175 |
784Lowest |
1,113 |
1,269Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6 23% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.8±7.2Lowest 20% above VT |
| Mendon and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Addison and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7kHighest 31% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$93,654±$23k 15% above VT |
| Addison and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23kHighest 14% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$316,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Addison and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,306±$335 6% above VT |
| Addison and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831Highest 16% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,713 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.