Compare towns
Chittenden vs Mendon vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chittenden has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318 |
1,113Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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±$28k 32% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 71% above U.S. |
$5,342Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Chittenden 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 | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | — | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.