Compare towns
Cavendish vs Westminster vs Mendon vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Mendon has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Sharon has the most renters (20.3% rent).
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 | Cavendish | Westminster | Mendon | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
497Lowest |
1,113 |
1,577Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Mendon and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cavendish and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the VT average |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Mendon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Mendon and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 21% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Mendon 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | — | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 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.