Compare towns
Mendon vs Sheldon vs North Hero vs Strafford
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 affordable homes ($272k median).
North Hero has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.9%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | North Hero | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,263 |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
54.2±6.7Highest 26% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% 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%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Strafford 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and North Hero 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% |
47.4% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.5%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| North Hero and Strafford 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±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$102,143±$24k 26% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$451,400±$66kHighest 43% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| North Hero and Strafford 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±$379 4% above VT |
$1,556±$360Highest 26% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| North Hero and Sheldon 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 |
$5,132 about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±98.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
96.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.4%±8.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Strafford 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 | Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | — | None 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.