Compare towns
Mendon vs Sheldon vs Ira 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 the most people working from home (22.5%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Chittenden has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Sheldon | Ira | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
2,267Highest |
381Lowest |
1,318 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
| Ira 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Ira 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
51.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Chittenden and Ira 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$106,250±$28kHighest 31% above VT |
| Chittenden 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±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
| Mendon and Chittenden 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,125±$488 9% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$5,346Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Ira 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| 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.