Compare towns

Franklin 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

Franklin has the most renters (25.3% rent).
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.

MeasureFranklinSheldonMendon
People
Population
1,590
2,267Highest
1,113Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%
VT: +2.8%
+8.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
38.8±6.9Lowest
10% below VT
40.9±3.5
5% below VT
53.4±10.5Highest
24% above 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%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Franklin 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%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29%±1.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.7%
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
49.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±3.1Highest
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.1
VT: 7%
Franklin and Mendon 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
$78,533±$25kLowest
3% below VT
$100,524±$23kHighest
24% above 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±$66kLowest
22% below VT
$272,400±$61k
14% below VT
$357,000±$44kHighest
13% above 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±$266Lowest
28% 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
$3,384Lowest
33% below VT
$3,578
29% below VT
$5,342Highest
6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.5%±42.2
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
88.6%±42.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Mendon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89%
VT: 73.2%
92.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1977Lowest
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minHighest
8% above VT
25 min
7% above VT
17 minLowest
28% below VT
Work from home
18.1%±4.7
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±8.9Highest
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 —
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.