Compare towns
Mendon vs Pawlet vs Ripton vs Shrewsbury
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).
Pawlet has the most affordable homes ($266k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Shrewsbury has the most kids (25.1% 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 | Pawlet | Ripton | Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
1,480Highest |
508Lowest |
1,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42.3±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Pawlet 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% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.1%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shrewsbury and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Mendon 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% |
37.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$91,250±$23k 12% above VT |
| Ripton 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±$44k 13% above VT |
$266,200±$44kLowest 16% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$331,900±$52k 5% above VT |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,153±$215Lowest 7% below VT |
— | $1,438±$380Highest 17% above VT |
| Shrewsbury and Mendon 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 |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,350Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
71.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Shrewsbury 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% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
95.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Mettawee School District #84 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None 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.