Compare towns
Mendon vs Benson vs Chittenden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Chittenden has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Mendon | Benson | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,113 |
784Lowest |
1,318Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
50.8±6.3Lowest 18% above VT |
| Mendon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.4% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
51.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$106,250±$28kHighest 31% 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 | $357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$346,800±$35k 10% 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 | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,125±$488 9% below VT |
| Mendon and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342 6% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,346Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| 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.