Compare towns
Mount Holly 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
Mount Holly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Mount Holly | Sheldon | Mendon | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,415 |
2,267Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.2Highest 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Mount Holly and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Mount Holly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Mendon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,015±$19k 4% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 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 | $296,900±$40k 6% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Mendon and Mount Holly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,534±$1kHighest 24% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Mount Holly and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,926 22% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.9%±65.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Mount Holly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 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 | 27 min 13% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.2%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 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 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | 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.