Compare towns
Chittenden vs Mendon vs Orange
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).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Chittenden | Mendon | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318Highest |
1,113 |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
50.3±5.3Lowest 17% above VT |
| Mendon and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orange and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chittenden and Mendon 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 |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below 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±$35k 10% above VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
| Mendon and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Orange and Mendon 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 |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Chittenden 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 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.