Compare towns
Franklin vs Mendon vs Sheldon vs Brownington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most renters (25.3% rent).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Brownington has the most affordable homes ($194k 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 | Franklin | Mendon | Sheldon | Brownington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590 |
1,113Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40.5±4.5 6% below VT |
| Mendon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brownington and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
21.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$75,556±$17kLowest 7% below VT |
| Mendon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$193,800±$40kLowest 39% below VT |
| Mendon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266 28% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$745±$504Lowest 40% below VT |
| Sheldon and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,912 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
78.5%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| 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.