Compare towns
Mendon vs Ripton vs Plainfield vs North Hero
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
North Hero has the most expensive homes ($451k median).
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 | Ripton | Plainfield | North Hero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
508Lowest |
1,016 |
1,263Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
54.2±6.7Highest 39% above U.S. |
| North Hero 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Hero and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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 25% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$102,143±$24k 27% above U.S. |
| Ripton and North Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$451,400±$66kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| North Hero and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
— | $750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,556±$360Highest 10% above U.S. |
| North Hero and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,132 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±98.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and North Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.