Compare towns
Montgomery vs Sheldon vs Mendon vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montgomery has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Montgomery | Sheldon | Mendon | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,047Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,113 |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Mendon and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Mendon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Mendon and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$929±$158 25% 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 | $4,326 14% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 58% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Mendon 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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.