Compare towns
Orwell vs Stratton vs Mendon vs Shoreham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Shoreham has the most affordable homes ($316k median).
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 | Orwell | Stratton | Mendon | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
532Lowest |
1,113 |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.8±7.2 20% above VT |
| Mendon and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Orwell and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$93,654±$23k 15% above VT |
| Stratton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$316,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
| Shoreham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,713 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school 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.