Compare towns
Mendon vs Windham vs Plainfield 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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
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 | Windham | Plainfield | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
594Lowest |
1,314 |
1,318Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
| Mendon and Chittenden 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% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Plainfield 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Windham 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% |
48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
51.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Chittenden and Mendon 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 |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
| Mendon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,125±$488Lowest 9% below VT |
| Mendon and Plainfield 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,346 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Plainfield 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school 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.