Compare towns
Jericho vs Mendon vs Sheldon vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jericho has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Strafford has the most renters (11.1% rent).
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 | Jericho | Mendon | Sheldon | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,114Highest |
1,113Lowest |
2,267 |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.1 15% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| Jericho and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Jericho and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Jericho and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$7,149 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.3%±52.9 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 10% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Jericho 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 | #6 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
— | — | — |
| 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.