Compare towns
Mendon vs Richmond vs Sharon 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%).
Richmond has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Chittenden has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Richmond | Sharon | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113Lowest |
4,159Highest |
1,577 |
1,318 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
-1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
| Mendon and Chittenden 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% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Sharon 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% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Sharon 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% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
51.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Chittenden and Mendon 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 |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
$106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
| Richmond and Chittenden 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 |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$346,700±$37kLowest 10% above VT |
$346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
| Richmond 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 |
— | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,125±$488Lowest 9% below VT |
| Sharon and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342Lowest 6% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$5,346 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Sharon School District | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.