Compare towns
Mendon vs Ira vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Benson has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
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 | Ira | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,113Highest |
381Lowest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
51.9±9.4Lowest 20% above VT |
| Ira and Mendon 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Highest 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% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Mendon and Benson 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 |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Mendon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 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% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 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 |
| High school 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.