Compare towns

Mendon vs Walden 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).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
North Hero has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.9%).

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.

MeasureMendonWaldenNorth Hero
People
Population
1,113
1,037Lowest
1,263Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.5%
VT: +2.8%
+2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+16.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
53.4±10.5
24% above VT
48.8±3.2Lowest
13% 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%
14.3%±3.9Lowest
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%±1.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.4%±2.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
27.3%±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%Highest
VT: 43.8%
26.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
47.4%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
4%±2.1
VT: 7%
5.5%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
North Hero and Walden 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
$88,000±$15kLowest
8% above VT
$102,143±$24kHighest
26% above VT
North Hero 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±$44k
13% above VT
$238,900±$23kLowest
25% below VT
$451,400±$66kHighest
43% above VT
North Hero and Mendon 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
$900±$136Lowest
27% 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
$3,944Lowest
22% below VT
$5,132
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
88.6%±42.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
56.3%±86.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
56.3%±98.1Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Mendon and Walden 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%
9.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.8%
VT: 73.2%
96.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
1 yr newer than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
28% below VT
26 min
10% above VT
30 minHighest
28% above VT
Work from home
22.5%±8.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
21.4%±6.7
VT: 16.9%
15.4%±8.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Mendon and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 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

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.