Compare towns
Chittenden vs Rochester vs Sheldon 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).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Rochester | Sheldon | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318 |
1,389 |
2,267Highest |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Rochester 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester 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% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 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 |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$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±$35k 10% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above 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±$488 9% below VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Sheldon 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 |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Rochester 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.