Compare towns
Chittenden vs Jamaica vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chittenden has the highest household income ($106k).
Jamaica has the most homeowners (96.9%).
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 | Chittenden | Jamaica | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318Highest |
882Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3Lowest 18% above VT |
55.1±5.5Highest 28% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
| Jamaica and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Mendon and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Jamaica and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.9%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Jamaica and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28kHighest 31% above VT |
$79,219±$19kLowest about the VT average |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
| Chittenden and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35kLowest 10% above VT |
$347,800±$50k 10% above VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
| Mendon and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488 9% below VT |
$870±$464Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346Highest 6% above VT |
$4,773Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% VT: 73.2% |
96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Jamaica and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.