Compare towns

Mendon vs Ripton vs Wallingford 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 most people working from home (22.5%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Wallingford has the most renters (42.9% rent).
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.

MeasureMendonRiptonWallingfordNorth Hero
People
Population
1,113
508Lowest
643
1,263Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.5%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-1.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+16.9%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
53.4±10.5
24% above VT
47.7±14.2Lowest
11% above VT
47.7±22.3Lowest
11% above VT
54.2±6.7Highest
26% above VT
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
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
15.2%±9.1
VT: 17.9%
16.8%±4.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
North Hero and Wallingford 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%
20.2%±7.4Lowest
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%
23.5%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%
3%±2.7Lowest
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
$80,714±$18kLowest
about the VT average
$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
$239,000±$49kLowest
25% 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±$651
about the VT average
—
$927±$140Lowest
25% below VT
$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
$3,743Lowest
26% 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%
14.6%±16.3Lowest
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%Highest
VT: 10.1%
0%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.2%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
57.1%Lowest
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
1938Lowest
38 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
20 min
15% below VT
30 minHighest
28% above VT
Work from home
22.5%±8.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
5.8%±6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
15.4%±8.8
VT: 16.9%
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

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.