Compare towns
Mendon vs Ripton vs Sandgate vs North Hero
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).
Ripton has the youngest population (median age 47.7).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
North Hero has the most kids (16.8% 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 | Ripton | Sandgate | North Hero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
508 |
435Lowest |
1,263Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +16.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
54.2±6.7 26% above VT |
| Sandgate and North Hero 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| North Hero and Mendon 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.5%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$102,143±$24k 26% above VT |
| 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 13% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$451,400±$66kHighest 43% above VT |
| 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±$651Lowest about the VT average |
— | — | $1,556±$360Highest 26% above VT |
| 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 6% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,132 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±98.1 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
96.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.4%±8.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Mendon 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 |
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.