Compare towns
Ira vs Mendon vs Williston vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
West Haven has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Ira | Mendon | Williston | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381 |
1,113 |
10,144Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
54±10.5 25% above VT |
| Ira and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Haven and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$85,250±$29k 5% above VT |
| Williston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$245,000±$34kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— |
| Williston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,485 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school 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.