Compare towns
Sharon vs Castleton vs Mendon vs Cavendish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Cavendish has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
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 | Sharon | Castleton | Mendon | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
4,453Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
| Mendon and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
| Mendon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
| Mendon and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
| Sharon and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$3,948 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| 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 | 18 photos → |
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.